As Nigeria joined the world to mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day today (Saturday July 28, 2012), experts have said that hepatitis B alone affects about 19 million Nigerians.
The experts, who made the revelation in Lagos on Friday 27 July 2012 during a symposium on Hepatitis B organized by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in collaboration with the Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Nigeria (SGHIN) called for collaboration to raise awareness of the disease, which they said is more infectious and common than the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
NIMR Director-General, Prof. Innocent Ujah, said although the disease is deadly, it is largely unknown by Nigerians. He put the global rate of Hepatitis B and C at about 490 million, adding that HIV and the disease “area two enemies” that should not be allowed to mix.
There are five hepatitis viruses defined by types- A, B, C, D and E. Types B and C are of significant concern since a high proportion of people infected with these viruses may not experience symptoms at the early stage of the disease, and only become aware of their infection when they are chronically ill.
According to WHO, types B and C could lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common causes of liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Common modes of transmission of these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for Hepatitis B, transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact. Also infected children sleeping next to each other, sharing of razor blades, being tattooed with unsterilized equipment are responsible for the transmission of the ailment.
PLEASE GO CHECK YOUR STATUS. THERE IS A VACCINE FOR THIS DISEASE. GO TAKE YOURS.
http://nigeriannewsblog.com/19-million-nigerians-affected-with-hepatitis
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