World Hepatitis Day: Adamawa Govt. to test residents

The Adamawa State Government on Tuesday, said it would establish community based testing programs across the state, to eliminate Hepatitis B and C by 2030.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Felix Tangwami, disclosed this at the commemoration of the 2024 World Hepatitis Day in Yola.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the theme for the commemoration is: “It’s time for Action”, Test, Treat and Vaccinate”.

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NAN also reports that the World Hepatitis Day, commemorated annually on July 28, seeks to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, which causes severe liver disease and cancer.

Tangwami, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Adamawa Ministry of Health, Mr Zirra Bubanani, said the prevalence of hepatitis globally was alarming with over 500 million people affected, and more than one million deaths annually.

“Today’s event aims to turn an unknown, undiagnosed and untreated disease to one that is known, prevented, tested and treated.

“We will establish community based targeted testing programs across the state, to identify and treat those affected with the disease.

“The ministry and it’s partners are committed to providing education and vaccination for the prevention of Hepatitis B and C in the state.

“We must ensure that communities and families are well informed about the disease and ensure access to necessary resources,” Tangwami said.

According to him, the prevalence in Adamawa stands at 38.1 per cent as at 2019, with many unaware of their status, leading to severe health complications and significant burden on the health system.

The WHO State Coordinator, Dr Ahemen Terseer, said that deaths from viral hepatitis B and C globally was on the rise with 1.3 million deaths in 2022 and 304 million people living with the infection.

The WHO official said there was a huge number of undiagnosed and untreated people living with the condition globally, with 220 million undiagnosed Hepatitis B and 36 million undiagnosed Hepatitis C.

He, however, called for availability of simplified care services for education, testing and vaccination, in order to eliminate hepatitis and achieve the WHO target by 2030.

” To achieve this, all pregnant women living with chronic Hepatitis B, must have access to treatment and vaccines for their infants.

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“90 per cent of people living with Hepatitis B and C must be diagnosed and 80 per cent of diagnosed persons treated,” Terseer said.

Dr Mohammed Hamman, State Coordinator for AIDS/STI and Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, identified the Federal Medical Center, Yola, and other Primary Health Care Centers across the state to have resources for treatment and testing .

Hamman, however, enjoined residents to make themselves available for testing, which indicates the first step to getting treatment for the disease.