Dr. Mike Omotosho the Executive Director of Hepatitis Zero Nigerian Commission is passionate about the eradication of Hepatitis in Nigeria this he has exhibited through regular sensitization on need for screening etc. Speaking with Anthonia Duru in this interview, Omotosho who is also a philanthropist speaks on activities of his Commission.
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on the communicable disease.
Can you tell us about Hepatitis Zero Nigerian Commission? What are the objectives of this organization?
The Hepatitis Zero Nigerian Commission is a humanitarian non- governmental organization with strong affiliations to the Global Hepatitis Commission headquartered in Brazil. The sole responsibility of the Commission is ensuring that Hepatitis is totally obliterated among mankind via advocacy, screening, prophylaxis and treatment. The Commission is particularly focused on advocacy for hepatitis prevention and treatment referrals so as to achieve zero cases in Nigeria which results in the elimination of the transmission of hepatitis by the year 2020 according to the Sustainable Development Goal 3.3.
Can Nigeria achieve zero Hepatitis?
Oh Most definitely, Viral hepatitis is an international public health challenge, comparable to other major communicable diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and Nigeria is not left out. Despite the significant burden it places on communities across all global regions, hepatitis has been largely ignored as a health and development priority until recently.
Nigeria is estimated to have one of the highest cases of Hepatitis B in the world with a percentage of 12.2%which translates to about 20 -30 million persons affected by the Hepatitis virus. The country is also bedeviled by the other forms of Hepatitis virus such as Hepatitis A and C and more recently Hepatitis E in the north-eastern region as reported by WHO in 2017. In Nigeria, Hepatitis is treated as an opportunistic infection that is common among HIV/AIDS patients and as such, it is not given the needed attention as a public health concern among the general population. Hence, the low knowledge about Hepatitis among the general population in Nigeria.
However, If all hands come on deck to ensure adequate awareness creation, access to screenings and vaccinations and when positive cases arrive, treatment commences immediately, then we can achieve Zero Hepatitis, that is why the Commission has taken up the burden of fortnight free screenings and subsidized vaccines in certain locations such as the Jabi lake Mall in Abuja and the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos.
You see, not many civil society organizations and government MDAs make conscious effort to create awareness about Hepatitis as a standalone and the awareness creation activities conducted during the celebration of World Hepatitis Day is not enough to bring about the desired result. There is therefore the need for a deliberate effort towards the eradication of hepatitis by all the relevant stakeholders in Nigeria.
It is because of the enormity of the unknown cases of Hepatitis within the nation that the Nigerian Commission is propelled to keep doing the following; Advocacy visits to Executive Governors and their first ladies as the case may be. Advocacy to the government on developing framework for ensuring the lifelong treatment of Hepatitis B through provision of vaccinations, medications at a subsidized rate.
Inaugurate ambassadors that will push and promote the cause of eradicating hepatitis especially by owing pet projects. Ambassadors will be from both the public and the private sectors and traditional rulers.
School campaigns (lower – upper basic) to create awareness on the prevention of hepatitis.
Make strong presence at requisite international conferences and conventions.
Recruit respectable celebrities and influencers to champion the cause
Anything is possible if we put our minds to it.
Your organization over time has been calling for screening, do you have the wherewithal and all it takes to screen citizens?
That’s a tricky question, because the eradication of Hepatitis in Nigeria cannot be done by one man or organization, that is why we seek to; partner with relevant stakeholders; media, health sectored Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s), public health centers to carry out sensitization, screenings, vaccinations,
partner with doctors and other health care personnel for the treatment of positive cases of hepatitis C.
Seek for financial partners to come on board this campaign to help provide free vaccinations. However, if unfortunately we are left alone, Oh why not? It may take time but surely and steadily we will plan to achieve our goal of zero hepatitis.
What are some of the achievements of your organization in Nigeria?
The Commission is proud to say that in just 6 months, since our flag -off we have ensured the screening, counseling and testing of over 1million Nigerians through our partnership with 100 Rotary Clubs, NGOs, CSOs, media in organizing nationwide outreaches.
The Commission has also appointed five first ladies as ambassadors, some DG’s of government royal fathers and other prominent Nigerians of the program with a vision to reach 10 million Nigerians in the next 1year.
We have gone ahead with more free hepatitis screenings and subsidized vaccinations in different locations in Abuja and Lagos.
A mini book on hepatitis has also been written and will be launched on the 14th January at the Mike Omotosho Annual Lecture.
It was reported by your organization that about 20million Nigerians are living with Hepatitis. What is responsible for the high rate of this communicable disease in Nigeria?
Hepatitis B infection is a vaccine-preventable disease transmitted through infected blood, semen, and other body fluids. HBV is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV with several modes of transmission; such as perinatal transmission from infected mother to child, unsafe sexual intercourse, transfusion of HBV-infected blood and blood products, unsafe medical procedures, sharing of needles and sharps and horizontally between children, as well as other intra-familial sources of infection
Hepatitis C infection is a blood borne virus 10 times more infectious than HIV with no currently available vaccine. The most common modes of transmission are through HCV- infected blood, unsafe medical procedures, and sharing of needles and sharps. Less common modes of transmission are sexual and perinatal transmission. Well, basically the reason for this alarming rate is the way the Hepatitis B virus is being transmitted and that is through body fluids (semen, sweat, saliva, vaginal fluid). The Hepatitis B virus unlike the HIV Virus can survive outside the body for up to 7 days. So you see why we need to ensure everyone gets vaccinated as that is only means of prevention.
