Coco-Bassey|31 July 2016
Cross River Ministry of Health under the leadership of Dr (Mrs) Inyang Asibong, Commissioner for Health in partnership with Medical Women Association Of Nigeria (MWAN CRS) chapter lead by Dr (Mrs) Ani Nchiewe and other voluntary organisations join World Health Organization (WHO) member states to adopt the first ever Elimination Strategy for Viral Hepatitis on World Hepatitis Day 2016.
Every Activity that addresses Viral Hepatitis is a step toward Elimination through Greater Awareness, increased diagnosis, Universal Vaccination, blood and injection safety, harm reduction and treatment. It is estimated that 60% to 90% of Viral Hepatitis cases go unreported. The occurrence of subclinical cases, failure to recognize mild cases and misdiagnosis are thought to contribute to the underreporting.
Hepatitis is a fairly common disease that mainly affects the liver. Viral Hepatitis is a systemic, viral infection in which necrosis and inflammation of Liver cells produce a characteristic cluster of clinical, biochemical and cellular changes.
There are five strains of viruses that causes hepatitis – Hepatitis A Virus (HAV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) and Hepatitis E virus (HEV). Hepatitis A and E are similar in mode of transmission (fecal-oral) whereas B, C and D share many other characteristics (blood borne transmission).
MODE OF TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS A & E.
*Poor sanitation, person to person contact, water borne, food borne.
*Incubation (days) immunity is 15-50 days. Average 30 homologous.
*It is usually mild with recovery. No carrier state or risk of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or hepatic cancer.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS B, C & D.
Parenterally, by intimate contact with carriers or those with acute disease, sexual and oral – oral contact.
*Perinatal transmission from mothers to infants.
*An important Occupational hazard for Health care personnel.
*Exposure to contaminated blood through equipment or drug paraphernalia.
*Incubation (days) immunity – Average of 70 – 80 days homologous.
*May be severe. Fatality rate:1-10%. Carrier state possible. Increased risk of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatic cancer.
There is an approve combined Hepatitis A and B vaccine for vaccination. Vaccination consists of three doses.
Coco-Bassey Esu
Is the media aide to the Honourable Commissioner for Health, CRS
