Hepatitis: Kwara Govt to screen 5,000 people from July 30 — Commissioner

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Dr. Amina El-Imam, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health says the state government will commence screening of about 5000 people on Hepatitis, starting Tuesday, July 30.

El-Imam stated this on Monday in Ilorin, while speaking during the commemoration of the 2024 World Hepatitis Day organized by the Kwara Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

She observed that the theme of the day entitled: “It is Time For Action”, signifies the importance and opportunity for people to be aware of this disease.

The commissioner explained that the screening will be conducted at various tertiary institutions, market places and health care facilities in the state.

According to her, the exercise will not be restricted to only screening, but will include referral and linkage to appropriate quaters for medication and treatment.

El-Imam observed that people know more about HIV/AIDs than Hepatitis which is more infectious than HIV.

She added that the mode of transmission for HIV is similar to Hepatitis, and that the designated centers for HIV treatment is also assigned for Hepatitis.

The commissioner advised people against harmful cultural practices including scarification, tribal marks, tattoo, circumcision, barbing and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), that predispose people to contacting Hepatitis.

“Some of these are cultural practices that can cause harm. No single race, tribe, or culture is 100 percent perfect. Dont practice culture that can cause harm to an individual,” she said.

El-Imam further explained that some of these practices can still be done safely in healthcare facilities with the right tools.

She advised that when it comes to harmful cultural practices, then people should “employ healthy dose of stubbornness” to avoid exposing oneself to harm.

“We must collectively change our attitude towards getting exposed to dangerous and harmful cultural practices,” she said.

Earlier in his presentation, Prof. Abdulfatai Olokoba, a Professor of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, of University of Ilorin described Hepatitis as a liver disease caused by the hepatitis virus which could be easily contracted from a victim through contact of body fluids.

According to him, viral Hepatitis is a weightyglobal health challenges, with six distinct types identified as A,B,C,D,E, and G.

Olokoba stated that social cultural practices in the environment which constitute risk practices includes scarification, tribal marks, blood letting, manicure, pedicure as well as having multiple sexual partners.

He warned that virtually everybody is at risk of contacting Hepatitis, including healthcare workers, butchers and students.

The expert advised people to avoid risk practices, while also advocating behavioural change and screening of the disease to know status.

He also tasked the government on political will and allocation of budgets on healthcare geared towards combating the disease in the state.

Alhaji Razaq Owolabi, the Chairman House Committee on Environment and Health, pledged to move motion in Kwara House of Assembly in ensuring that 2025 budget captures the healthcare programmes.

He explained that this will help towards funding healthcare sector for the people in the state.

Speaking earlier, Dr Muhammad Rasheed the programme Manager HIV/Aid and Hapatitis, explained that World Hepatitis Day, is celebrated every 28 July.

He described the day as affording opportunity to step up efforts on hepatitis and encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public to highlight the need for a greater global response on Hepatitis. (NAN)
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