Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo has urged the Rivers People to avail themselves of the services of the State owned Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Facilities to treat Hepatitis.
Dr. Banigo stated this in her goodwill message from the Government House in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, in commemoration of the 2022 World Hepatitis Day.
The Deputy Governor, who described Hepatitis as a deadly killer disease responsible for millions of deaths annually in Nigeria, disclosed that the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Hepatitis as an inflammation of the liver that can cause a range of health problems and can be fatal; stressing that there are five (5) main types of hepatitis virus, which are A,B,C, D and E.
According to the Harvard trained, Public Health Physician and Chairman of the State Task force on Immunization and Primary Health Care, Hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis related morbidity and mortality, stressing that Hepatitis B can be spread from one person to another through sexual contact, sharing of needles, syringes and even from mother to baby at birth.
The Deputy Governor said the Nyesom Ezenwo Wike led Administration has built and rehabilitated Hospitals and Primary Health Centres in the State, implored the people to access the Hospitals or Primary Health Centres closer to them, to protect themselves and their loved ones from this viral Hepatitis by ensuring that they are tested and vaccinated.
Dr. Banigo insisted that the aim of the Health campaign “is to raise awareness about the need of bringing Hepatitis care to Primary Health Facilities, Community based Venues and locations beyond Hospital sites so that care is closer to communities, and the people can get access where ever they are”.
It would be recalled that 27 July each year has been set side to commemorate World Hepatitis Day. The theme for this year is “Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer You”.
