Dr. Danjuma Adda, the Executive Director of the Centre for Initiative and Development (CFID), has brought attention to hepatitis as the second leading cause of death worldwide, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a town hall meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, held to observe World Hepatitis Day, Adda, also the past President of the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), disclosed this information.
He emphasized the pressing need for increased awareness, prevention, and treatment efforts to tackle the hepatitis crisis in the state and the nation as a whole. Adda raised concerns about the inadequate quality of equipment used in blood transfusions across Nigeria.
According to Adda, “Many testing kits are ineffective in detecting the virus due to their substandard quality.”
He called for collaborative efforts to enhance hepatitis testing and treatment, urging all levels of government to invest in high-quality test kits.
Furthermore, Adda urged religious and traditional leaders to ensure proper sterilization of equipment used for children’s circumcision.
Adda highlighted the high mortality rate associated with viral hepatitis in Nigeria. He mentioned that about 20 million Nigerians are living with the disease, with 1.3 million dying annually.
He criticized the lack of attention given to hepatitis compared to HIV, expressing sadness that hepatitis patients often incur the costs of treatment, diagnosis, and cures themselves, unlike persons living with HIV.
Dr. Tukura Nuhu Nyigwa, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (TSPHCDA), represented by Gemson Linus, Head of Medical Laboratory Services, stated that the agency is tirelessly working to enhance hepatitis-related services in the state’s health facilities.
The agency has been pivotal in providing vaccines and immunization to safeguard communities, with a commitment to ensuring equal access to vital services, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Sharing her experience, Barrister Gloria Sotennge, a human rights lawyer living with hepatitis B, urged governments at all levels to fulfill their responsibilities by investing more in testing and diagnosis for hepatitis B and C.