A non-governmental organisation, Centre for Family Health Initiative has urged Nigerians, especially pregnant women to get tested for viral hepatitis.
The group made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while commemorating the 2022 World Hepatitis Day.
The group said viral hepatitis can be caused by a number of different viruses, including hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.
It said hepatitis can complicate pregnancy, but it is also possible for pregnancy to complicate hepatitis.
Read Also: World Hepatitis Day: Agency conducts Sensitisation, tests traditional rulers, others
A staff at the CFHI, Mrs. Odunayo Adegbite, said the risk factors and transmission mode of the viral infections are the ingestion of contaminated food or water, unsafe contact with infected body fluids, and receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, mother-child transmission, sexual contact, among others.
Adegbite urged pregnant women to be mindful of the level of unsaturated fat they consume to prevent liver damage.
“There is a need to raise awareness about the disease,” the group said during a talk and counselling session held at the Kagini Primary Health Care Centre, Abuja and the Chief’s palace.
The group also conducted a hepatitis test for 100 residents in the community and ninety-five persons tested negative while five persons tested positive.
World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28 annually and this year’s theme is ‘Bringing hepatitis care close to you.’
LN247 reports that the Federal Government has developed a National Strategic Framework for eliminating viral hepatitis in the country by 2030.
The Federal Government said the framework was in line with the Global Health Sector Strategy for viral hepatitis control.
Nigerians, especially pregnant women are urged to get tested for viral hepatitis, the group says.
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