By Helen Oji
Abuja
Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) in collaboration with Centre for Disease and Aids Control (CDAC) have engaged in sensitization on dangers of hepatitis.
The campaign and free vaccine on hepatitis was held at the weekend at dike’s park, Mogadishu cantonment Asokoro Abuja.
Speaking at the event, President of DEPOWA and wife of Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs. Omobolanle Olonisakin, emphasized the dangers of the disease, which she said has become a global challenge.
Represented by by the Defence Intelligent Agency Officers Wives Association (DIAOWA), Mrs. Usena Usman, she said hepatitis could kill easily detected early and treated.
She said: “Hepatitis is an inflammation and swelling of the liver and stops it from functioning properly, and the disease could be contacted through another person’s blood, semen or other body fluids.
“We want to sensitise the people on the danger of the disease called hepatitis and attempt to bring it under control and eradicate it from our society.
“Hepatitis is epidemic in the society and barrack is no exception. We decide to partner with CDAC to sensitize our barrack community and this programme is free for our members and the barrack population as a whole. Hepatitis is a killer and it kills faster than Aids and most people are not aware.
Field Coordinator, Centre for Disease Aids Control (CDAC) Mr. Nicholas said that “hepatitis is a virus and it more threaten than HIV and AIDS because it has a shorter incubation, the way you contact HIV is the way you contact hepatitis B.”
He said infection rate in Nigeria is very high.
Every 28th July is been observe as world hepatitis day. It is an infection of liver. Anything that makes the liver swell and excessive intake of alcohol can make the liver to swollen and you take drugs on your own, your liver is going to be inflamed.
