In order to prevent sudden death linked with hepatitis, market men and women have been advised to always carry out blood screening and get vaccinated against the virus.
The advice was given during a health talk to traders at Scout Camp Market, Challenge, Ibadan, Oyo State, by the President of Rotary Club of Oluyole Estate, Rotarian Olusegun Aremu, to mark the World Hepatitis Day 2023 which is marked on July 28 of every year.
With its theme: “We’re Not Waiting,” part of the activities for the Day included health talk, free screening of traders for Hepatitis B and C, as well as vaccination.
This was done in conjunction with other Rotary Clubs in Oyo State and Emzor Pharmaceutical Ltd.
Rotarian Aremu said that the World Hepatitis Day project is one of the areas that Rotary Club International is interested in as it relates to health, making it known that a lot of people are not aware of what the virus is all about and its dangers.
He said that many people are ignorant of having the infection because the symptoms are similar to malaria and are usually treated as such.
According to the president, “we have created awareness and sensitized market men and women of the need to be tested and vaccinated against hepatitis for those who don’t have it in their blood.”
Saying that some of the Club’s members are not also aware of infection, he added: “That is why the Rotary Club of Oluyole is championing it, in conjunction with other Rotary Clubs in Oyo State and Emzor Pharmaceutical Limited.
“The danger of having hepatitis is sudden death. It kills faster than other ailments. The symptoms include fever, headache and eventually shut down the liver.
“That is why we urge people to come out and be screened. For those who have it, they will be referred to hospitals to go for treatment while those who don’t have it will be advised to go for vaccination. The vaccination is in three doses, with an interval of a month after each dose.”
A Rotarian who is also a medical personnel, Ipadeola Agbolade, described Hepatitis as a virus which is deadly if not properly managed.
According to her, “those with hepatitis are usually disadvantaged because unlike Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), it is not given much awareness, so a lot of people don’t know when they are living with the deadly virus.”
She said that the most common ones in Nigeria are Hepatitis B and C.
“That is why Rotary International is marking the day with a free hepatitis test and vaccination,” she said.
In further enlightenment, the medical personnel said that Hepatitis has to do with fluid and can be contracted through sharing of sharp objects, unprotected sexual intercourse, from mother to child during child birth or breastfeeding, and blood transfusion.
It was learnt the World Hepatitis Day 2022 was marked at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, but Aremu said that a decision was taken to go to market places where many of the traders don’t know about the virus.
He expressed appreciation of the receptive attitude of the traders, adding that after the screening, those not infected would be vaccinated while those who are positive with the virus would be issued referrals.
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