Medical Experts raised the alarm on high rate of hepatitis infection

….BAARD takes campaign to Ogun Markets
…urge Nigerians to go for screening

The President of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Federal Medical Center Abeokuta, Dr Adegboyega Rilwan Omogbolahan in collaboration with the Gastroenterology and hepatology unit of Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta under the leadership of the unit head, Dr. Opeyemi Owoseni, a consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist have urged Nigerians to go for hepatitis screening, describing the viral infection as a silent killer.

Dr Adegboyega, a Senior Registrar in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Unit in FMCA and another erudite scholar in person of Dr. Festus Oluseye Babarinde (John Hopkins University, USA), are co-founders of Babarinde-Adegboyega ARD (BAARD) Concept, a body interested in driving good welfarism for resident doctors within and beyond across all aspects of life, including but not limited to finance, academics, social and psychological support, and by extension patient care and the general public health improvements at large.

The world hepatitis day, which is an annual event was again another opportunity to showcase participation and sponsorship, which is in line with the core beliefs of BAARD to improve lives of the general public via medical outreach programs, health talks, medical consultations, treatments and prevention strategies including vaccination.

Dr. Adegboyega, representing BAARD Concept made the call while speaking to journalists at an outreach held to sensitize Nigerians on the precarious nature of Hepatitis B and C infection and the need to get tested.

He said, Nigerians need adequate information on the cause of the dreaded disease, how to avoid it and how people can get screened for hepatitis in various health facilities.

With Hepatitis B prevalence between 8.1-9.5% of the general population, he said about 20 million Nigerians are estimated to be affected with the hepatitis B virus while about 1% , 2.2 million estimated with hepatitis C.

According to him, viral hepatitis remains a disease of public health importance, noting that there is limited global progress in addressing the scourge with increasing vertical transmission (mother to child transmission) as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

“There is a low level of awareness, under-reporting, under-diagnosis, and under-treatment of hepatitis B and C in Nigeria.

“I call on the private sector to explore mutually beneficial partnerships with the government and invest their resources in fighting viral hepatitis.

“I urge all Nigerians to work together to eliminate this silent killer, viral hepatitis. Go to any health facility and get screened, it is a simple rapid test, taking less than 5 minutes,” Dr Adegboyega said.

Speaking on the 2025 World Hepatitis Day, Dr. Adegboyega Co-Founder BAARD, said the organization decided to collaborate with the Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, the ARD and with support from the Ogun State government as part of its contribution to create awareness on the dreaded disease.

He said the choice of hosting the event at the Odo-Eran market in Obantoko, Odeda local government area of Ogun State is to focus on market men and women, infant vaccination, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, blood and injection safety, harm reduction and diagnosis and treatment.

The idea, according to him is to do the checks to be sure if a person is a carrier or not. Though being a carrier, in his words is not a death sentence. All the person needs to do is visit the hospital and commence treatment and if not, get a vaccine.

He said hepatitis is a disease of the liver, it has different types, Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, saying that Hepatitis B is the most deadly and stubborn. But with vaccine and regular check up in the hospital, one can live with it, though till this very moment, it has no cure.

Dr Adegboyega said BAARD will need the collaboration of a broad range of stakeholders in order to take the message and awareness to the grassroots.

He said it was necessary to check one’s status to start early treatment, adding that the disease was manageable. He maintained that not knowing one’s status was highly risky.

Other speakers at the event are Dr. Issa Kamorudeen Jimoh from CMPC, who encouraged people to participate in the exercise by advising them to check their Hepatitis status so as not to infect others and to be safety conscious.

He stated that the disease can be transmitted from a pregnant mother to the baby, and it can be transmitted through any blood to blood and fluid to fluid contact in the body with background injuries.

Dr. Idrees Jimoh and Dr. Badmus Tajudeen Adeolu, both senior registrars in the department of gastroenterology and hepatology also did excellently well in breaking down the medical modes of transmission, treatment and preventive strategies while also taking questions and answers from the public. This task was also assisted by Dr. Elemide Olusegun J, a resident in the same department.

The senior registrars and Dr. Elemide also participated in screening as well as interpretation of results and lots more.

The ARD FMC Abeokuta was also well represented with full participation by house officers and other members of staff turning out in large numbers to ensuring success of the program, spanning various departments.

Mrs. Adu Olufunke, a representative of the State Ministry of Health, Dept. of Public Health, and State Programme Coordinator HIV and AIDS/ Hepatitis and STI Control Programme, in her speech, encouraged and advise school age children to be careful not to share sharp objects in school as this can increase the risk of contracting the disease.

Dr. Owoseni, Head of Gastroenterology Unit, Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, educated the audience on the importance of creating awareness of the disease, stating that a lot of patients do not come to the hospital for checks until the disease has reached a dangerous stage, hence the hospital is brought to this community and environs so they will be aware of the danger of not coming for checks and tests from time to time.

According to her, a lot of people are living with the disease but they do not know.

The event also witnessed free hepatitis tests for market men, women and children in Odo – Eran market in Obantoko. Other medical services delivered were general body checks, sugar levels and lots more. Vaccination cards were also given to participants who tested negative and were to be followed up in the hospital for further education and subsidized vaccine acquisition.

The Head of Gastroenterology Unit, Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta, Dr. Ope Owoseni as well as Dr. Adegboyega Rilwan and Dr. Babarinde Fetus (co-founders, BAARD Concept) will like to appreciate; MegaLifesciences, Phillips Pharma, MicroNova, Getz Pharma, Healthline Pharmaceuticals
and Midas Lab for their various contributions in cash and kind towards the successful hosting of the program.