World Hepatitis Day: Lagos raises awareness on vaccination

 

As Edo leads campaign to eliminate disease, urges safe disposal of medical wastes

.FCTA vows to eliminate disease by 2030

IBRAHIM QUADRI  and  Favour Ishember, Abuja

 

 

Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to the reduction and elimination of Hepatitis scourge in the State by deepening public sensitization and awareness as well as providing free screening and vaccination program.

 

Speaking on Thursday after an awareness walk around Alausa-Ikeja community to commemorate the World Hepatitis Day in Lagos, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye noted the determination of the State Government aligns with the T.H.E.M.E.S. goal targeted at improving the prevention, control and management of diseases.

 

In his words; “Lagos State Government is determined more than ever to bring this scourge of Hepatitis to an end by providing free Hepatitis awareness, screening and vaccination program which aligns with the State T.H.E.M.E.S. goal targeted at improving the prevention, control and management of diseases while reducing the incidence and impact of public health emergencies”.

 

Explaining that Hepatitis is an infection of the liver which causes liver inflammation and damage, Ogboye said that the commitment of the present administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu towards prevention, care and treatment of Viral Hepatitis in Lagos has been great through both political and financial supports with the sole aim of improving the overall health indices of Lagosians and ensuring a universal health coverage, built on sustainable primary health care system.

 

The Permanent Secretary explained that the theme of the Year 2022 World Hepatitis Day commemoration, ‘Bringing Hepatitis care closer to you’, connotes that Hepatitis is a killer disease that waits for no one adding that it is a reminder of the urgency to end Hepatitis by “bringing Hepatitis care closer to citizens through awareness, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

 

“The theme is also reminding us of the commitment to eliminate Viral Hepatitis as a public health menace by reducing its incidence and mortality rates by 95% and 65% respectively by year 2030 which is achievable”, he said.

 

Ogboye noted that the State Government through the Ministry of Health has demonstrated a health approach to management of Hepatitis across the cascade of screening, diagnostics and treatment including; free screening of patients using WHO-prequalified rapid test kits for Hepatitis B and C.

 

According to him, screening, vaccination and treatment for Hepatitis B and C presently take place in the various outpatient departments of the State healthcare facilities such as the medical outpatients, ante-natal, surgical outpatient, paediatrics units amongst others.

 

Ogboye who received his second jab of the hepatitis vaccine immediately after the awareness walk at the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic, Alausa-Ikeja, venue of the free hepatitis screening, urged residents to present themselves for hepatitis screening, treatment and vaccination in order to help prevention, early detection and management.

 

Also speaking, the Director, Disease Control, Dr. Rotimi Agbolagorite stated that the fight against hepatitis requires the cooperation and support of all citizens. He added that the State government will continue to engage relevant stakeholders and citizens in the prevention and control of the disease whilst also implementing right strategies to eliminate the scourge of infections in the State.

 

Dr. Agbolagoriite stated further that beyond World Hepatitis day celebration, the State Ministry of Health has been constantly  conducting community awareness sensitization to the members of the communities so as to get basic information as to where and when to seek medical intervention against the deadly disease.

 

Also, The Edo State Government is leading a campaign to raise awareness amongst residents and health professionals on viral hepatitis, urging for improved sanitation, among other preventive measures to eradicate the disease responsible for inflammation of the liver that leads to severe disease and liver cancer.

 

The Edo State Health Commissioner, Prof. Obehi Akoria, disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, during an event to mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day, with the theme, “bringing hepatitis care closer to the people.”

 

As part of the event, the state also offered free hepatitis screening and vaccination for residents, which took place in Benin, Uromi and Auchi, covering the state’s three senatorial districts.

 

Prof. Akoria said the programme is in line with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) mandate to bring hepatitis care closer to the primary health facilities and communities so that people have better access to treatment and care, no matter what type of hepatitis they may have.

 

Urging for increased action towards combating viral Hepatitis through sustained awareness and education, the Commissioner said, “The prevalence of Hepatitis in Nigeria is about an average of 11 percent. Unfortunately, 9 out of 10 people living with Hepatitis do not even know that they have the disease. When we talk about Hepatitis, we are talking about inflammation of the liver. It could be caused by bacteria or viruses, even drugs, and alcohol but most of the damages that we see are caused by viruses, some of it from alcohol.”

 

On the mode of transmission for the disease, Prof. Akoria noted, “We get Hepatitis B and D infections through unprotected sexual intercourse with someone who is infected, through sharing sharps with people. When we talk about sharps, we’re talking about the indiscriminate use of injections. These include people who patronize patent medicine stores and pharmacies to get injections indiscriminately when we know that the licensing of these facilities do not allow them to give injectables.”

 

She noted that one could be infected with Hepatitis A and E through contaminated food and water, adding, “We must ensure that every individual, family, and community practices good food and water hygiene. As residents of Edo State, we’re calling you to take ownership of your own health.”

 

Charging health professionals for safe disposal of biomedical wastes as part of efforts to end the disease in 2030, Prof. Akoria noted, “There is a concern that has been raised by the environmental health officer of the state which is the disposal of biomedical waste in our hospitals, clinics, and maternities. This is one big source of potential transmission of hepatitis B virus and other such transmissible Hepatitis like Hepatitis C and D.

 

“What we are appealing for is this: a standard way of disposal of these wastes is incineration; no other way, not burying or just throwing away in a dumpsite. We are all aware of how many young people are scavenging at dumpsites.”

 

“So, you can imagine the amount of harm we would be doing to our people if we’re throwing hospital and related wastes at dumpsites. If you cannot afford an incinerator, please partner with those who have incinerators and ensure that your biomedical wastes are properly disposed of,” she added.

 

 

In a similar vine, As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this year’s Hepatitis Day today, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has assured of its commitment towards eliminating the viral disease by 2030.

 

 

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, made the commitment while flagging-off activities to mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day in Abuja.

 

 

She said the administration is ready and prepare to align with  World Health Organization and other critical stakeholders to achieve hepatitis B, C, and D elimination by 2030.

 

 

To achieve this, she said the administration will remain resolute and “working with other critical stakeholders and development partners, to reduce new infections of hepatitis B and C by 90%, reduce hepatitis related deaths from liver cirrhosis and cancer by 65%, ensure that at least 90% of people with hepatitis B and C viruses are diagnosed; and at least 80% of those eligible receive appropriate treatment.”

 

 

The minister in her keynote address also stressed the need to accelerate the fight against the viral hepatitis and the importance of testing and treatment for the real people who need it, in order to preserve its productive demography.

 

 

Aliyu, while depicting the worrisome impact of the disease, said “With the negative impact of the disease resulting to deaths in every 30 seconds from a hepatitis related illness, it is obvious that we have no other option but immediately act on viral hepatitis. It is also worthy of note to point that people living with viral hepatitis unaware can’t wait for testing.”

 

 

She decried a situation where communities in the FCT particularly those in the hard-to-reach areas, lack access to hepatitis diagnostics, treatment and preventive interventions.

 

 

“Unfortunately, individuals who have incidental screening at blood donation centers or when having laboratory evaluations for other health conditions, even when they realise often lack the knowledge of what to do to manage the situation and most of them are left in the hands of quacks or pay huge sums at some random health facilities to have even suboptimal care.

 

 

“As you may be aware, the Public Health Department, Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA with partners, had in the past, evaluated health workers in District Hospitals and other Departments, and Agencies. The findings were appalling as much over 50% of personnel were positive and many others needed hepatitis B vaccinations.

 

 

“This goes to show that there is uncoordinated Hepatitis B screening taking place in various communities of the FCT with clients not adequately counselled and managed hence most of them resort to self-help.”

 

 

The minister therefore advised healthcare providers to carry out good quality community screening exercise and link clients to adequate management system in the six Area Councils of the FCT while seizing the opportunity granted by the World Hepatitis Day to begin to take deliberate actions.

 

 

She charged the Mandate Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, to direct the Department of Public Health and the FCT Primary Health Care Board with the six Area Councils Health Authorities, to assume leadership roles and coordinate all the above stakeholders towards the achievement of the targets.

 

 

“Appropriate public Information, Education and Communication activities with general and targeted contents having community case definition of hepatitis in local languages and English, should be escalated across the six Area Councils, while the HHSS leadership will ensure mass screening and quality management of clients in need.

 

 

The World Hepatitis Day is an international event celebrated every July 28, with the aim of creating more awareness on prevention and control.

 

 

Some of the activities lined up for the commemoration of this year’s Hepatitis Day include symposium, media engagements, hepatitis B and C screening at health facilities and outreach posts across the six Area Councils.

 

 

In his keynote address, the Director of Public Health, Dr Abubakar Sadiq, harp on the need to know ones statues as the long term consequences of Hepatitis is worse that most viral disease.

 

 

He assured that the FCTA will however increase access to healthcare services and routine vaccinations especially for children between ages zero to three.