Hepatitis Day: Ondo to boost healthcare for service delivery
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka, has announced that the state government is in the process of securing additional financing running into several billions from development partners to enhance health services in the state.
In a release signed by the Press Officer of the Ministry, Mrs. Bisi Lawani, Ajaka made this disclosure during the commemoration of World Hepatitis Day.
The theme of this year’s observance was “It is time to act,” focusing on improving public access to diagnosis and treatment, which Ajaka deemed apt.
The Commissioner described hepatitis as a viral infection that targets the liver, causing inflammation and affecting its ability to function properly.
He noted that the liver is a crucial organ responsible for several functions, including the breakdown of food and drugs and the production of blood. Consequently, any liver disease can have serious consequences.
“There are several types of hepatitis, but the most common ones of public health concern are Hepatitis A, B, C, and E. Hepatitis A and E are transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water and are often associated with poor sanitation.
Hepatitis B and C are usually transmitted through contact with infectious body fluids, such as blood and sexual fluids, through practices similar to the transmission of the HIV virus, such as sexual acts, blood transfusions, sharing contaminated needles, and transmission from mother to child,” he explained.
He emphasized prevention strategies, including immunization, compulsory screening of blood and blood products, strict guidelines on sterilization of medical instruments, and a ban on the reuse of needles.
He further explained that “the clinical features of hepatitis can vary widely. Some individuals may not experience any symptoms, while others may experience mild to severe symptoms.
Hepatitis can present as an acute illness that may resolve within days or weeks, or it may progress to a chronic condition.
Common features include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice.”
He advised pregnant women to insist on screening for Hepatitis B and encouraged them to deliver in hospitals where they can access skilled birth attendants and sterile instruments.
This, he said, would prevent mother-to-child transmission, and if a mother is already infected with Hepatitis B, medication will be administered to the baby immediately after birth.
He reiterated that the government would continue to create awareness among the public to embrace immunization, hospital deliveries, and avoid patronizing quacks.
He also informed that the government is set to commence the screening and regulation of food vendors in the state as the first step to eliminating Hepatitis A and E, which are contracted through food ingestion.
