Dr Raji Razaq, Kwara Commissioner for Health, on Thursday in Ilorin advised youths to shun unprotected sex, so as to reduce prevalent of Hepatitis B.
Razaq made call at the 2021 World Hepatitis Day organised by the state Ministry of Health, Rotary Club and King’s Health Development Initiatives, held at College of Education, Ilorin
The commissioner explained that 2021 world hepatitis day is to raise awareness and ensure students and residents are screened, provide vaccination for those who are negative.
He also said the campaign is being carried to higher institutions because of the prevalence in deadly Hepatitis B among the youths from age of 15 to 45.
Razaq explained that government would not leave anything unturned to make healthcare delivery accessible to residents.
He underscored the need for mass awareness and sensitisation in the state to achieve full coverage if hepatitis screened among the populace.
The commissioner said the present administration has pariotised health sector as key agenda by giving the ministry the support needed for full eradication of Hepatitis in the state as it was achieved with the poliomyelitis.
Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, the Director of Public Health, told newsmen that the programme was a global advocacy and awareness campaign dedicated to the millions of people around the world living with undiagnosed hepatitis B or C.
He stated that screening and early detection are very critical to eradicating these viruses before it changed to chronic one.
“Viral hepatitis can be a silent killer with little or no symptoms from a very long time, with the symptoms ranging from high fever, swollen of the body, yellow eye known as jaundice,” he said.
Fakayode said this year’s theme, titled: “Hepatitis can wait”, due to the urgency efforts needed to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat.
“With the prevalent rate of hepatitis related illness, even in the current COVID-19 crisis, we can’t wait to act on viral hepatitis,” he said.
Fakayode therefore urged the residents to always go for screening, saying it is the best way to prevent hepatitis.
(NAN)