About 19 million Nigerians have been identified as people living with hepatitis in Nigeria, it has been disclosed.
The Ondo state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo-Ajaka, declared this while speaking on the commemoration of the 2023 World Hepatitis Day, tagged “One life, one liver”, held in Akure, the state capital.
Ajaka expressed the importance of massive awareness on the danger and prevention of hepatitis as it continues to pose a threat to public health worldwide.
” No fewer than 19 million people are infected with the virus in Nigeria and the government in collaboration with stakeholders, especially World Health Organization is making efforts to eradicate it from the country.
The commissioner observed that the disease is bedevilled with low awareness for the general public and low coverage of testing and treatment which he described as gaps to be addressed in the elimination of the disease.
Ajaka therefore, highlighted the importance of protecting the liver against hepatitis so as to live a long and healthy life.
Hepatitis, he said causes liver damage and cancer and kills over a million people annually.
The most deadly among the five types of hepatitis infections, are hepatitis B and C.
