Over 18,000 Test Positive To Hepatitis In Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Government has disclosed that over 18,429 persons have tested positive to Hepatitis in the state.

The Commissioner of Health Pharmacist Ahmed Yahaya, stated this on Thursday in Lafia at a news conference to mark the 2022 World Hepatitis Day, with theme 'Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer to You', adding that 181,946 persons were screened. 

Yahaya explained that the state government is committed to the elimination of viral hepatitis through the implementation of a five-year strategic plan with a target of treating 124,000 persons.

“The day was set aside by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to recognise viral hepatitis as a global public health challenge.

“It is commemorated every July 28 to increase its visibility and attract more resources to battle it as well as to bring succour to the people affected."

The commissioner said that the state had clearly exhibited a disproportionately high prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C as compared to the national average. 

He stated that the state had designated areas across the 13 local government areas for mass community screening and called on residents to present themselves for the screening.

Yahaya advised the public to avoid the use of unsterilised sharp objects, sharing of needles, syringes and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products. 

He, therefore, said that the public willing to receive vaccine across the state should go to primary healthcare centres, general hospitals and the two tertiary medical facilities in the state. 

Meanwhile, as part of activities to mark the day, Beacon Youth Initiative, a non-governmental organisation in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health and other partners, conducted free hepatitis screening for 1,000 residents of Bukan-Sidi in Lafia.

Envoh Okolo, Executive Director of the organisation, said that the exercise was to scale-up screening for the viral hepatitis in the communities and to vaccinate those found to be negative.

Okolo urged stakeholders to increase investment and financing efforts geared towards eliminating hepatitis globally.