FG urged to declare Hepatitis state of ?emergency

FG urged to declare Hepatitis state of ?emergency

FG urged to declare Hepatitis state of ?emergency

From Eddy Uwoghiren

A consultant Gastroenterologist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has called on the federal government to immediately declare a state of emergency over epatitis B Virus(HBV).

He made the call at University of Benin (UNIBEN) during a lecture to mark the 2015 World Hepatitis Day celebration recently.

Dr Omuemu who expressed sadness at the lackadaisical attitude of Nigerians towards regular medical checkups opined that the government ought to have declared state of emergency to curtail the spread of the disease?.

He said that HBV which is a viral disease is 40 times more infectious than HIV, destroys the liver cells, was among leading cause of death worldwide. He stated that. The disease could be spead from unscreened blood.

He decried the high prevalence of the disease and said late manifestation of the disease makes it hard to control.

In his recommendations, he called on the government to help subsidize the vaccine for the HBV and engage in more public awareness on the disease.

He further encouraged Nigerians to vaccinate themselves against the virus and ensure blood is screened that before accepting it.

Earlier in his welcome speech, Director of Health Services, UNIBEN said the lecture was organized with a view to educating the University community about the disease.

She stated that the University management has concluded plans to organize a free vaccination for staff and students of the institution and encouraged other institutions to emulate it to combat the disease.

Uwoghiren 300l, Medicine & Surgery wrote from UNIBEN