Over 23,000 Nasarawa Residents Test Positive To Hepatitis

The Nasarawa State Government has said that no fewer than 23,224 residents of the state have tested positive to the viral Hepatitis B and C.

The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Janet Angbazo, made the disclosure during a Press briefing held in commemoration of the 2023 World Hepatitis Day tagged “We are not waiting, one life, and one liver”, in Lafia on Monday.

She explained that a total of 229,682 individuals were screened but out of the figure, 23,224 residents tested positive for the disease. Adding that some of the infected persons were presently taking treatments in government hospitals across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

She said, “The World Hepatitis Day, is a day set aside by the World Health Organization to recognize viral Hepatitis as a global Public Health Challenge. It is commemorated every year to increase the visibility of the disease and attract more resources for the battle against it, as well as to bring succor to the people affected by the viral Hepatitis.

The Permanent Secretary further appealed to the general public to make themselves available for the testing of HBV and HCV in government hospitals across the 13 LGAs of the state, and avoid the use of unsterilized sharp objects, sharing of needles/syringes, and the transfusion of unscreened blood/blood products.