The World Health Organisation, WHO has underscored the importance for Nigeria to set up a routine surveillance system to monitor viral hepatitis programme intervention, as well as meet up with global reporting obligations.
Viral Hepatitis refers to an inflammation of the liver cells and damage to the liver. There are different types and causes, but the symptoms can be similar.
The liver’s functions include detoxifying the blood, storing vitamins, and producing hormones. Hepatitis can disrupt these processes and create severe health problems throughout the body.
At least five viruses can cause hepatitis. The three most common are hepatitis viruses A, B and C. Infection with any of these three can be fatal.
The National Professional Officer, WHO Nigeria Oluwafunke Ilesanmi, said this in Abuja at a Capacity and Consensus Building workshop for National Viral Hepatitis Surveillance.
In his address, the National Coordinator, National AIDS, STI
and Hepatitis Control Programme, NASCP Araoye Segilola, said that the ministry
was leading other stakeholders to create more awareness on viral hepatitis and
would give nationwide visibility, to eliminate the deadly disease in the
country.
