World Hepatitis Day is a worldwide event that raises awareness of the disease’s rising incidence in Nigeria, where an estimated 20 million people are thought to be infected. Stronger preventive measures are required, not a lack of official awareness of the issue, which is why there hasn’t been consistent action. The World Hepatitis Alliance urged nations to step up their efforts to eradicate the disease and acknowledge the urgent need for testing and treatment for those who actually require it.
The Nigerian government unveiled a national strategic framework for eradicating viral hepatitis in the nation in July 2022. Infant vaccination, mother-to-child transmission prevention, blood and injection safety, harm reduction, diagnosis, and treatment were identified as the key pillars for achieving the 2030 target.
Viral hepatitis comes in five different forms: A, B, C, D, and E. It is a problem for both the national and international public health. 95% of hepatitis-related illnesses and premature deaths are caused by chronic forms of hepatitis B and C. Less frequently seen and only seen in conjunction with hepatitis B, hepatitis D. The other two—A and E—cause acute infections and outbreaks in places with poor sanitation and insufficient waste disposal and are spread by tainted food and water.
Similar to HIV, unsafe sexual behavior, unsafe blood transfusion practices, and other harmful behaviors like sharing toothbrushes or other sharp objects for tattoos or scarification marks, as well as mother-to-child transmission, all contribute to the spread of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV). Over 20 million Nigerians have hepatitis B, C, or both, and more than 80% of them are unaware of their condition, which is alarming.
The most susceptible demographics are women and children. Nine out of ten infected infants typically go on to develop chronic hepatitis B, and a quarter will develop severe liver disease. A 2022 World Bank report showing that Nigeria’s spending on health, social protection, and education is extremely low and degrades the quality of those services only serves to emphasize how lax the country is.
The most effective ways to stop the progression of hepatitis B, according to experts, are vaccination and oral antiviral medications. The government of Nigeria should put policies in place to guarantee that people have access to hepatitis testing and treatment.
In order to guarantee a 99.99% birth dose vaccination rate, free national hepatitis B treatment, and free treatment for hepatitis B and C, respectively, nations like Uganda, Rwanda, and Cape Verde have committed more resources. Similar to other high-priority areas like HIV, immunization, and reproductive health, hepatitis care needs to receive adequate funding.
Further integrating hepatitis care into initiatives promoting access to healthcare, routine screening of pregnant women visiting medical facilities, and HIV treatment patients are all important. To sum up, the international community has drawn attention to the urgent need for more proactive measures to combat the rising prevalence of hepatitis in Nigeria.
