The World Health Organisation (WHO) has vowed to join forces with the republic of Nigeria in the fight against the deadly hepatitis epidemic.
WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, disclose this at the flag-off of this year’s World Hepatitis Day, themed “Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer To You.” In Abuja.
He noted that in Nigeria with its highest burden of viral hepatitis and with a national hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) prevalence rate of 8.1 percent and 1.1 percent among adults, aged 15 to 64 years respectively, collaboration is key, particularly with the high cost of treatment and out-of-pocket payment of the citizens.
Mulombo added that the fight against this epidemic can only be realized if more commitments are made by all partners in the country.
“Nigeria is contributing to the global achievement of reduction of hepatitis B infections in children.
Since 2005, the country has routinely screened all donated and transfused blood and blood products for HBV and HCV and has institutionalized injection safety and universal precaution since 2007.”
Consequently, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, while admonishing the public health threat of viral hepatitis B and C noted that the country is aiming at partnering with private sectors to begin hepatitis vaccine production to eradicate morbidity and mortality rates for universal health coverage.
“To work with the private sector to start producing routine vaccines which are called the traditional vaccines.
By the end of next month, partners to start working on a new mRNA vaccine collaboration. So we shall be receiving those who shall be working with research and development of the new generation of vaccines based on mRNA.
I am proud to note that Nigeria is one of the first countries to have achieved this in a short time. The core pillars identified for attaining the 2030 target include infant vaccination, prevention of mother-to-child intervention, blood and injection safety, harm reduction, diagnosis, and treatment.”
It was estimated that over 20 million Nigerians are being infected with hepatitis B or C due to low awareness of the infection as it is usually spread by unsafe sexual behaviors and injection practices, unsafe blood transfusion, harmful conduct, and mother-to-child transmission.
