Janet Ogundepo To further reduce the impact of Hepatitis on the population, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, has said that the state has subsidised Hepatitis C testing and vaccinated over 5,000 residents. He stated this at a symposium held at the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic, Alausa, Ikeja, to mark World Hepatitis Day in Lagos on Wednesday. In a press release signed by the Ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Ogboye, emphasised that the fight against viral Hepatitis must be intensified to curb the spread of the virus.
The 2024 World Health Organisation Global Hepatitis Report indicates that deaths resulting from viral Hepatitis have become the second leading cause of death, with about 1.3 million deaths annually, globally, 100 times more than HIV/AIDS. According to the World Health Organisation, Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents, leading to a range of health problems.
It adds that about 354 million people worldwide live with Hepatitis B or C. To further raise awareness of viral hepatitis, World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28 every year. The theme for 2-24 is “It’s time for action.
” Speaking at the event, the PS noted that the WHO Global Hepatitis report showed a higher prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Lagos than the national average. He stated, “In 2016, a baseline assessment conducted with suppor.