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Expert Issues Stark Warning: Hepatitis B More Infectious Than HIV / Health Workers Celebrate Easter At The Infectious Disease Hospital In Lagos / Hepatitis B More Infectious Than HIV - Dr Bello Kumo (2) (3) (4)
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Hepatitis B More Infectious Than HIV – Expert by press9jatv: 8:42am On Jun 14, 2019 |
Dr Bello Kumo, a consultant Gastroenterologist with Ahmadu
Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, says Hepatitis B
Virus (HBV) is more infectious than HIV.
Kumo stated this in a paper entitled “Face to Face with
Hepatitis B: Cost and Burden”, presented at a public lecture
organised by Kashim Ibrahim Fellows (KIF) in Kaduna on
Thursday.
The consultant, who expressed concern that not many
people have knowledge about the disease, added that
multitude of patients were not identified early enough and
managed.
He explained that the virus could be transmitted through
contact with blood and body fluid, adding that it could
infect nearly everyone that came into contact with anyone
suffering from it through sharp objects and open wounds.
According to him, there is no known cure for chronic HBV,
stressing that prevention remains the best option.
He added that “but to prevent, people must first know their
status so that if they are negative, they can be vaccinated,
which gives up to 95 per cent prevention.
“And those who tested positive can begin treatment and
managing the virus to avoid its spread.”
Dr Muhammad Saleh, a medical doctor, described HBV as a
silent killer, stressing the need for massive awareness
campaign.
Saleh said in his lecture on “Hepatitis B: Finding the Missing
Millions”, that not much would be achieved if infected
persons were not located and placed on treatment.
He noted that “HBV has been silently ravaging the country’s
population. There is need for prevention through awareness,
community sensitisation and scaling-up of screening
services.”
Gov Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State commended KIF for
organising the lecture, saying that the efforts would give
people living with HBV a voice and raise the needed
awareness on prevention.
El-Rufa’i, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Hadiza
Balarabe, said HBV had been neglected for long, overlooked
by governments and misunderstood by the public.
He said “I commend KIF for supporting our government to
draw attention to the scourge of the virus and ways to treat,
manage and prevent its spread.
“Each activity we undertook takes us a step further toward
eliminating the virus in our communities and raising
awareness is a crucial window to treatment, management
and prevention.
READ ALSO: ‘Neglecting Hepatitis B leads to
liver cancer’
“Active collaboration is central toward eliminating HBV, as
such, we all have a part to play and dedicating a whole
week to create awareness and draw attention of
stakeholders is truly a great step.”
The governor explained that the one-year KIF programme
was initiated by Kaduna State Government to improve the
capacity of young people and build a new crop of leaders for
efficient public service in the country.
He said his administration would continue to provide
opportunities for the youth to excel through people-oriented
policies and programmes.
One of the KFI fellow, Michael Medubi, explained that the
public lecture was part of a five-day KIF community service
to educate and sensitise people on HBV.
Medubi said that the fellow had on Monday sensitised,
counselled and provided testing services to students and
staff of Kaduna Polytechnic and on Tuesday, trained 120
hairdressers and barbers on best practices.
“On Wednesday, the foundation sensitised people at Sheikh
Abubakar Gumi Central Market, Kaduna, on ways to prevent
infection.”
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