Minister urges Nigerians to go for hepatitis screening

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has urged Nigerians to go for hepatitis screening, describing the viral infection as a silent killer.

The minister made the call during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja in commemoration of the 2021 World Hepatitis Day.

He said, Nigerians can get screened for hepatitis in health facilities around the country.

Getting screened has become crucial as 16 million Nigerians are estimated to be infected with hepatitis B and 2.2 million with hepatitis C, which he noted represents estimated prevalence rates of 8.1 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively.

According to him, viral hepatitis remains a disease of public health importance, noting that there is limited global progress in addressing the scourge.

“There is a low level of awareness, under-reporting, under-diagnosis, and under-treatment of hepatitis B and C in Nigeria.

“I call on the private sector to explore mutually beneficial partnerships with government and invest their resources in fighting viral hepatitis.

“I charge all Nigerians to work together to eliminate this silent killer, viral hepatitis. Go to any health facility and get screened, it is a simple rapid test, taking less than 15 minutes,” Ehanire said.

Nigeria has fared relatively well in the COVID-19 response so far, this challenging period opens opportunities for integration of resources across programs of public health importance.

He said Nigeria subscribed to the WHO coverage targets for eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, focusing on infant vaccination, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, blood and injection safety, harm reduction and diagnosis and treatment.

Ehanire noted that the Federal Government will need the collaboration of a broad range of stakeholders to tackle this disease.

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