Today Is World Hepatitis Day, please share this post widely to save lives because Hepatitis is deadlier than COVID-19 and HIV yet nobody is talking about it???
World Hepatitis Day is commemorated each year on 28 July to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes a range of health problems, including liver cancer and death.
Types of Hepatitis.
There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus – Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
The Deadliest Types of Hepatitis: Hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of deaths, with 1.3 million lives lost each year. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, viral hepatitis continues to claim thousands of lives every day.
What Causes Hepatitis?
Causes of hepatitis are numerous and include viruses (viral hepatitis A to E), bacteria, protozoa, parasites, drugs, alcohol, etc.
However, the main causes of Hepatitis B and C is UNPROTECTED SEX.
Every new born baby in Nigeria is given Hepatitis b and c vaccine free of charge.
Also, pregnant women are tested of Hepatitis during antenatal.
THE BAD NEWS IS: Hepatitis B and C are deadlier and more dangerous than HIV.
THE GOOD NEWS: Hepatitis b is treatable and preventable with a Hep b vaccine. So please get tested and vaccinated ASAP.
Also, Hepatitis c has a CURE.
So before you engage in truth or dare games, before you suck the next dick, bress and kpekus, make sure you know their status.
VERY CONTAGIOUS DISEASE: It is 10 times faster to contact Hepatitis than hiv because the hepatitis virus can survive outside the human body for days but hiv virus cannot survive outside human body up to 2 minutes.
I still wonder why Hepatitis is not given alot of awareness in Nigeria especially from the health ministries? Almost every Nigerian know one or two things about HIV/AIDS but most Nigerians don’t know anything about Hepatitis??? The government should be blamed for this.
Hepatitis Themes Over The Years.
Each year focuses on a specific theme. The list of themes is as follows:
2011 : Hepatitis affects everyone, everywhere. Know it. Confront it. Confront her.
2012 : It’s closer than you think.
2013 : More must be done to stop this silent killer.
2014 : Hepatitis: Think Again
2015 : Prevention of viral Hepatitis. Act now.
2016 : Know Hepatitis-Act now.
2017 : Eliminate Hepatitis.
2018 : Test. Treat. Hepatitis.
2019 : Invest in eliminating hepatitis.
2020: Hepatitis Free future
This year’s theme is “ Hepatitis-free future, ” with a strong focus on preventing hepatitis B among mothers and newborns.
The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
Hepatitis Statistics
* 125 million people are living with viral hepatitis B and C.
* 347,143 deaths per year is caused by hepatitis B virus infection.
* 4% of people living with hepatitis B and 19% living with hepatitis C know their hepatitis status.
* 16% of children, globally, have access to the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.
Campaign
A hepatitis-free future is achievable with a united effort.
WHO is calling on all countries to work together to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. The aim is to:
PREVENT infection among newborns. All newborns should be vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth, followed by at least 2 additional doses.
STOP TRANSMISSION from MOTHER to CHILD . All pregnant women should be routinely tested for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis and receive treatment if needed.
LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND . Everyone should have access to hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment services, including people who inject drugs, people in prisons, migrants, and other highly-affected populations.
EXPAND access to testing and treatment. Timely testing and treatment of viral hepatitis can prevent liver cancer and other severe liver diseases.
MAINTAIN essential hepatitis services during COVID-19. Prevention and care services for hepatitis – such as infant immunization, harm reduction services and continuous treatment of chronic hepatitis B – are essential even during the pandemic.
The government of Nigeria needs to give Hepatitis the same attention it gave HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.
Guys get tested, get vaccinated and you will be doing your part in reducing the spread of the virus.
IykBethany Gist Ville 