The rate at which many Nigerians die from preventable ailments should be a source of concern to the country’s health authorities. High blood pressure, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and different types of cancer are some of these prominent illnesses. Hepatitis is another debilitating disease. In most cases, it is usually detected late when the damage is severe and irreversible.
In a recent disturbing report, Nigeria is said to be losing N17.9 trillion annually to hepatitis. According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, about 4,252 Nigerians also die from liver cancer caused by untreated hepatitis each year. Pate, who gave this damning report at a press briefing to commemorate the World Hepatitis Day on July 28, said Nigeria had the third highest burden of hepatitis globally and over 20 million citizens were infected with the disease – 18.2 million affected by hepatitis B and 2.5 million by hepatitis C.
“Over 8.1 per cent of the Nigerian population is infected with hepatitis B, and despite the availability of vaccination and treatment, over 90 per cent of those infected are undiagnosed and unknowingly transmit the virus to others, including children,” Pate said. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It could be caused by a range of viral infections and even non-infectious agents like alcohol and toxins. It is a dangerous disease which has five main strains – A, B, C, D and E.
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Their modes of transmission and severity of the illness differ. Hepatitis A and E are short-term illnesses transmitted through food or water. They can easily be treated. Hepatitis B, C, and D are transmitted through sexual contact, blood and from mother to child during childbirth. Often, most people confuse the symptoms with those of malaria and engage in self-medication that worsens the problem. By the time they discover their status, it is too late and treatment becomes more difficult. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin or eyes, fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine, nausea and loss of appetite.
Awareness about this deadly disease, its symptoms, screening and prevention or cure is low in Nigeria. Relevant government agencies should embark on enlightenment campaigns to raise awareness about hepatitis B and C. Gladly, the Federal Government has promised to flag off a nationwide year-long initiative aimed at eliminating hepatitis C and interrupting the transmission of hepatitis B in Nigeria by 2030. Tagged Project 365, the campaign is said to be a constituency-by-constituency screening, diagnosis and treatment of the illness.
The FG also pledged to increase budgetary support for hepatitis programmes, create a viral elimination fund, tax incentives and regulatory reforms to encourage local pharmaceutical production and streamline approval processes for hepatitis-related commodities. These are commendable efforts. State governments should consider administering free hepatitis vaccines to newborn babies to reduce mother-to-child transmission. Parents should endeavour to take these babies to the clinic for vaccination against hepatitis A and B. Although hepatitis B vaccine is included in national immunization schedule, there are still gaps in rural areas where there is limited access to health care. This gap should be closed as soon as possible.
There should also be free screening for Nigerians, especially pregnant women and young people. Blood transfusion centres should mandatorily screen blood for hepatitis. Nigeria should learn how some countries eliminated hepatitis C. Egypt, for instance, reportedly became the first country in the world to receive the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) gold-tier status on the path to elimination of hepatitis C. According to WHO, “Egypt has diagnosed 87 per cent of people living with hepatitis C and provided 93 per cent of those diagnosed with curative treatment, exceeding the WHO gold tier targets of diagnosing at least 80 per cent of people living with hepatitis C and providing treatment to at least 70 per cent of diagnosed people.”
Let Nigeria focus on early detection, prevention and treatment of hepatitis for her citizens. There is need for every individual to go for screening regularly. While hepatitis C can be treated, hepatitis B has no treatment but there are drugs that can moderate the rapidity of its development. Essentially, people should refrain from unprotected sex with multiple partners and should avoid sharing needles and other injection objects that could lead to the transmission of the illness.
Good hygiene practices, including regular washing of hands, helps to prevent the spread of hepatitis A. Excessive consumption of alcohol and self-medication that could harm the liver should be avoided. Regular check-ups for liver function, exercise, and healthy diet are very vital. For those who are already down with the illness, good nutrition, adequate rest and hydration are essential. In all cases, it is important to consult a medical doctor who specializes in infectious or liver disease to seek advice on how to manage symptoms or available treatment options.
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