World Hepatitis Day: Getting Nigerians to protect themselves

Protecting yourself from hepatitis infection • Hepatitis B virus is 50 – 100 times more infectious than HIV • 20 million Nigerians are infected with hepatitis B and C •  Two thirds of those infected with HBV are unaware of their infection • Vaccination is important for prevention As Nigeria joins the rest of the […]

Protecting yourself from hepatitis infection
• Hepatitis B virus is 50 – 100 times more infectious than HIV
• 20 million Nigerians are infected with hepatitis B and C
•  Two thirds of those infected with HBV are unaware of their infection
• Vaccination is important for prevention

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world today to mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day, the occasion underscores the need for increased effort to ensure that Nigerians are aware of the disease and how to protect themselves against it.
The World Health Organisation says there is urgent need for countries to enhance action to prevent viral hepatitis infection and to ensure that people who have been infected are diagnosed and given treatment.
This year, the organisation is focusing particularly on hepatitis B and C, which together cause approximately 80% of all liver cancer deaths and kill close to 1.4 million people every year.
“Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, which is one of the vital organs of the human body. It is commonly caused by a virus, Hepatitis B and C (less by A, D & E). Excessive alcohol intake and some drugs can also cause hepatitis. Viral hepatitis makes up the majority of causes as about 400 million people are living with hepatitis B and C worldwide,” says Dr. Henry Osazuwa, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Wellsprings Hospital Gwarinpa.
He said hepatitis can cause liver failure, liver cancer (Hepatitis B) and death. This is often as a result of infection over a long period which occurs with hepatitis B and C.
Osazuwa said hepatitis B and C are transmitted in a similar fashion. They are spread through blood, semen and body fluids, sexual contact, sharing of needles, syringes and from an infected mother to her baby. It is not spread through casual contact, hugging, holding hands, kissing and breast feeding.
According to the Head of Prevention, Department of Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, viral hepatitis is a very big public health issue in Nigeria.
He said there are 20 million Nigerians living with hepatitis B and C and they are at the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver and cancer of the liver.
“Most importantly, these ones are living in the communities and they are not aware of it and in the same process, they are transferring the infection to other people in the community,” Anyaike said.
He said a survey by the ministry showed that Kano had the highest number of people with hepatitis B in the six geo-political zones while Kwara State has the highest number of people with hepatitis C.
He said: “What we should do is to create awareness and to sensitise people on the burden of viral hepatitis in Nigeria, and for the various strata of the government to commit some funds to fight viral hepatitis in the country.”
Dr. Henry Osazuwa of the Wellsprings Hospital, Gwarinpa said an important aspect of prevention is to avoid behaviours that increase the risk for transmission like sharing of blades and needles.
 He said health care providers should take adequate precautions like wearing protective gloves and goggles during invasive procedures.
 “Hepatitis B virus is 50 – 100 times more infectious than HIV. Blood should be screened before transfusion. Hepatitis B can be prevented by immunisation efforts because of available effective vaccines. A lot of the global effect is geared towards this approach,” he said.
The doctor said adults should be encouraged to check their immunisation status and to immunise themselves, using the three dose HB vaccine. Babies should be immunised at birth and repeated at 6, 10 and 14 weeks.
He advised that pregnant women should be screened and when positive, hepatitis B immune globulin should be added to the baby’s immunisation.
WHO recommends vaccinating all children against hepatitis B infection, from which approximately 780 000 people die each year. A safe and effective vaccine can protect from hepatitis B infection for life. Ideally, the vaccine should be given as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours. The birth dose should be followed by 2 or 3 doses to complete the vaccine series.
 WHO also recommends vaccinating adults who are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis B. These include people who frequently require blood or blood products (for example dialysis patients), health-care workers, people who inject drugs, household and sexual contacts of people with chronic hepatitis B, and people with multiple sexual partners.
The organisation also urges people who think they might have been exposed to hepatitis to get tested so they can find out whether they need treatment to improve their own health and reduce the risk of transmission.