Dr Danjuma Adda, the immediate past President of the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), has called on the Federal Government to incorporate hepatitis B testing into antenatal, maternal, and child healthcare services. Adda made this plea on Friday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 2024 Biennial Conference organised by the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) in Abuja. He stressed the importance of Nigeria investing in and integrating hepatitis B testing into antenatal, maternal, and child healthcare, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to bolster the country's health system and immunisation program. According to him, currently, hepatitis B tests are not part of maternal and child healthcare programs. Adda, who lost his mother to hepatitis, emphasised the necessity for the government to include hepatitis B surface antigen testing in antenatal care and maternal child health programs, ensuring that all women undergo testing. He asserted that hepatitis B is preventable with the right vaccine, highlighting two key measures to reduce liver cancer deaths. 'Liver cancer often develops among those infected early, especially in childhood. 'Other factors contributing to liver cancer include aflatoxin exposure, alcohol consumption, and herbal medication misuse. 'Pregnant women, according to WHO recommendations, should undergo screening for hepatitis, enabling early identification and intervention. 'If a woman tests positive, she should receive prophylactic prevention treatment until delivery. Additionally, all newborns should receive universal vaccination'. Adda emphasised the importance of attending antenatal care for hepatitis screening and vaccination opportunities. He urged pregnant women to advocate for themselves and demand hepatitis B testing during antenatal visits. Furthermore, Adda encouraged pregnant mothers to request 'back dose vaccination' for their newborns within 24 hours of birth, noting its potential to protect infants from h epatitis infection. 'Hepatitis virus is the primary cause of liver cancer, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Early detection through testing and prompt treatment is crucial in preventing its spread'.(NAN) Source: News Agency of Nigeria
Related Posts
Artist urges FG to support sector with more grants
Nigerian visual artist, Promise Ebegbulem, has urged the Federal Government to create more avenues for artists to access grants, to enable them thrive in their chosen profession.
Ebegbulem made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria …
NamPol committed to ensuring safety for all: Shikongo
Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol), Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has reassured Namibians and visitors that despite Namibia’s recent decline in its ranking among the safest countries, law enforcement is striving to safeguar…
Tinubu urges youths to key into N45.6b student loan
President Bola Tinubu has urged youths to key into the student loan scheme introduced by his administration.
The President made the appeal in a national broadcast on Sunday on the ongoing nationwide protest.
He said his administration had shown comm…