The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, has announced that the state government will begin screening for hepatitis on Tuesday, targeting 5,000 individuals.
She shared this update on Monday in Ilorin during an event marking the 2024 World Hepatitis Day (WHD). The event was organised by the Kwara Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WHD, observed annually on July 28, is dedicated to raising awareness about hepatitis—a group of infectious diseases including hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. The day aims to promote the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions.
Hepatitis affects hundreds of millions of people globally, leading to inflammation of the liver that can be either acute or chronic, and it has the potential to be fatal. In certain countries, hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and can also lead to liver cancer.
Ms El-Imam explained that the screenings will be held at various tertiary institutions, marketplaces, and healthcare facilities throughout the state. Individuals will be referred to appropriate health facilities for further medication and treatment after the screenings.
She noted that “people are generally more aware of HIV/AIDS than they are of hepatitis, despite the fact that hepatitis can be more infectious than HIV.”
She went on to clarify that the ways HIV and hepatitis are transmitted are alike, and the treatment centres for HIV will also manage cases of hepatitis.
The commissioner also cautioned against participating in damaging cultural traditions like scarification, tribal marks, tattoos, circumcision, and female genital mutilation (FGM), which can raise the likelihood of contracting hepatitis.
“Some of these are cultural practices that can cause harm. No single race, tribe, or culture is 100% perfect. Do not practice culture that can cause harm,” she said.