By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Viral hepatitis kills 1.3 million people annually and causes 6,000 new infections every day, according to UN figures released for World Hepatitis Day.
The WHO insists the tools to eliminate the disease exist including curative hepatitis C treatments and preventative vaccines but governments must step up funding and accountability to close treatment gaps.
Supporting the campaign, First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu called on Nigerians to check their status and pressed for broader access to testing and treatment to break down barriers like stigma and healthcare inequality.
The organisation also urged countries to place people and communities affected by hepatitis at the centre of elimination efforts, saying their participation makes policies, programmes and health services more effective and responsive.
WHO further called for hepatitis services to be integrated into primary healthcare and universal health coverage, ensuring prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care are available throughout every stage of life.
It also urged governments to accelerate research and innovation, expand access to affordable technologies and strengthen collaboration to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of viral hepatitis.
Mrs Tinubu urged governments, healthcare providers, development partners, civil society organisations and citizens to work together to remove barriers to hepatitis services while tackling the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
Tinubu said this year’s theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down,” highlights the need to address financial, social and systemic obstacles preventing millions from accessing hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment and care.
In an interview with Persecondnews, Dr. Obinna Nwosu, Consultant/Physician at Unity Hospital, Asaba, Delta State, said lack of awareness about viral hepatitis remains one of the major challenges in controlling the disease.
“Many people do not understand hepatitis. They think it is one disease, but there are different types with different modes of transmission, prevention and treatment.”
He said while some forms of hepatitis can be prevented through vaccination, others require early diagnosis and medical management to prevent serious liver complications.
“Hepatitis B and C are the major concerns because they can become chronic and lead to liver damage, cirrhosis or cancer if not properly managed.”
The physician stressed that misconceptions about the disease often contribute to late diagnosis, urging Nigerians to seek accurate information and undergo testing where necessary.
“People should not wait until they feel sick. Early testing helps identify infections and allows doctors to provide the right care,” he said.
Observed annually on July 28, World Hepatitis Day raises awareness of viral hepatitis and mobilises governments, health institutions and communities to strengthen prevention, expand access to testing and treatment, and eliminate the disease as a public health threat by 2030.
The theme for this year’s observance is “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down,” a call to remove the financial, social and systemic barriers limiting access to hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment and care.