By Asmau Ahmad
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has advised Nigerians to protect themselves from hepatitis disease through immunisation.
The Chairman of the association in Kwara, Dr. Kunle Olawepo, gave the advice in a statement made available to the newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.
Dr. Olawepo said that hepatitis was a condition that has become important for public concern, education and enlightenment.
He stated that the viral hepatitis has emerged as a major public health problem throughout the world affecting several hundreds of millions of people.
“Viral hepatitis is a cause of considerable morbidity and mortality in the human population, both from acute infection and chronic squeal which include, in the case of hepatitis B, C and D, chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis,” he said.
He said that liver cancer or Hepatic Cellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the 10 most common cancers worldwide, closely associated with hepatitis B, and at least in some regions of the world with hepatitis C virus.
The chairman explained that hepatitis viruses include a range of unrelated and often highly unusual human pathogens.
He said that mode of transmission include person-to-person (most common) common-source epidemics, transfusion of blood and homosexual activity, among others.
Therefore, he called on improvement in sanitation and personal hygiene, immunisation and the need to step up public campaign against the disease.
