The Society for Gastroenterology and Hematology in Nigeria, SOGHIN, has charged the government to prioritise and fund hepatitis programmes towards its prevention and treatment.
The society made the call in Abuja, on Thursday, to mark the 2022 World Hepatitis Day, with the theme “Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer to you”.
According to the SOGHIN President, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, Nigerians should abstain from unhealthy lifestyles and practices that will develop the disease.
He enjoined global health agencies and donors to join hands and fight the menace noting that barely few Nigerians know about the disease.
His words: “The gains made have been
uneven across the world, with those most impacted often least likely to benefit and
countries have failed to meet the GHSS 2022 targets.
“In Nigeria, an estimate of 20 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B and C. Infection and prevention control in health care settings needs further improvements and harm reduction remains insufficiently scaled up and accessible.
“Only 10% and 21% of
people know that they live with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C respectively, even
fewer receive treatment , and liver cancer related to hepatitis is on an exponential rise.
“SOGHIN asked that multisectoral action , which recognises civil society as an integral partner, is taken to operationalize hepatitis programmes which promotes integration, decentralization and task shifting to improve access.
“The society called on governments , global health agencies and donors to honour commitments already made and further commit to prioritise and fund comprehensive hepatitis
programmes so that everyone has access to affordable prevention, testing , treatment and care.”
