The Global Hepatitis Report from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that Nigeria is one of the top ten countries carrying a third of the world’s hepatitis burden. Every day, hepatitis B and C infections result in the loss of 3,500 lives worldwide, with 63% of new hepatitis B infections occurring in the WHO African Region. Out of over 20 million people living with hepatitis B, C, or both, 80% are still unaware of their condition despite the data. It is a dangerous health crisis that is quietly spreading, with mortality rates higher than HIV, tuberculosis, and Malaria combined.
Also, hepatitis, a liver inflammation, comes in various tension such as A, B, C, D, and E. If not detected and treated, some strains can progress to serious complications like fibrosis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Strain A and E typically result from ingesting contaminated food or water, while B, C, and D are transmitted through contact with infected body fluids. Transmission modes include receiving contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures with contaminated equipment, and, for strain B, transmission from mother to baby at birth, within families, and through sexual contact.
Medical NGOs were created to enhance healthcare access for patients.
Dr. Danjuma Adda, a medical expert, explain the challenges individuals with strain B face, emphasising this silent disease’s physical, emotional, and social challenges. Dr. Adda contracted strain B in 2004 while working on comorbidity clinical diagnostics in a hospital. The absence of post-exposure prophylaxis for strain B stood out to him, exposing a crucial flaw in healthcare protocols. He faced a difficult challenge when he decided to share his status with his soon-to-be wife in a community where there was limited knowledge about the disease.
In 2007, Dr. Adda’s mother passed away from liver Cancer caused by untreated strain C, exposing a critical gap in healthcare knowledge. Motivated by this loss, Dr. Adda founded a non-profit organisation to improve healthcare access for patients and professionals. He served on the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) Executive Board for Africa from 2014 to 2016 and became the first African WHA President. His relentless advocacy is crucial, but he emphasises that collaboration is essential to succeeding in his mission of enhancing healthcare and raising awareness about viral disease.
Healthcare workers face challenges due to insufficient diagnosis training.
Addressing the disease crisis in Africa necessitates collaboration among public and private entities, communities, and funding groups. The issue is further complicated by a shortage of ongoing medical training for healthcare workers, specifically in diagnosis. Dr. Adda emphasised the importance of keeping medical professionals informed on the latest disease guidelines and treatments, as many healthcare workers still rely on outdated knowledge from their time in medical school. This lack of knowledge sharing leads to a disconnect between updated guidelines from organisations such as WHO and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), resulting in frontline healthcare workers being unprepared to effectively manage and provide advice on illness.
Raising community awareness and implementing testing programs are essential in tackling these issues. Utilising media outlets such as radio and television can increase public understanding of the disease. Non-governmental organisations and local health groups are key in promoting awareness and facilitating voluntary testing, particularly in marginalised areas. The federal government should engage in open dialogue about coordinated efforts to combat viral illness through collaboration with Private Sector players, healthcare professionals, and the community. Essentially, meeting this challenge involves implementing creative funding strategies, improving diagnostic laboratory systems, and making testing and treatment accessible to all patients in the country, including those in remote areas.
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Lastly, ongoing training for healthcare workers is vital to inform them about current guidelines and therapies. It is vital to prioritise the illness as a Public Health issue to lower the nation’s high mortality and morbidity rates. Through increased awareness, comprehensive Education campaigns, and collaborative efforts to enhance healthcare facilities, we can work towards meeting the WHO’s 2030 goals of diagnosing 90% of cases and treating 80% of those diagnosed. He reinforces the message that every individual deserves the opportunity to be tested for an increased quality of life and, when necessary, receive crucial medical attention.