Free Hepatitis B Treatment, Over 1,000 Beneficiaries Lauds Gov Aiyedatiwa's Initiative, Welfare Of Citizens.

ODSG Concludes enrollment of First Batch Of Free Hepatitis B Treatment As Over 1,000 Beneficiaries Lauds Gov Aiyedatiwa's Initiative, Welfare Of Citizens.

The Ondo State Government has concluded the first batch of enrollment for  comprehensive testing and treatment of individuals with hepatitis B, under the Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa's Medical Outreaches and Hepatitis Elimination programme.

The determination of Gov Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritize the health and social welfare of the people has received thumbs up as the first phase of the programme was ramped up  with a two day mop up free hepatitis B comprehensive testing and treatment for patients who tested positive to the virus in the last series of screening, carried out in six randomly selected local governments within Ondo State.

Speaking to newsmen, the Special Adviser on Health to the Ondo State Governor, Prof Michael Simidele Odimayo said during the mass screening test carried out sometime in the year 2024, purposely to determine the prevalence of the virus across the state, two local government each were selected from each senatorial district: Ondo Central, North and South. In each of these local governments, two towns were carefully selected as screening centres.

It will be recalled that findings have shown that In Ondo State, the prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is approximately 6.2%. while another study showed that 4.2% of pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic were positive for HBV surface antigen, with no prevalence for HCV antibodies, and no co-infections between the two viruses.

"It can therefore be concluded that the prevalence of HBV in Ondo State is relatively high, with a study reporting a 6.2% prevalence. Another study found a 6.7% seroprevalence of HBV surface antigen among healthcare workers."

Describing the virus, the mode of transmission and prevention, Prof Simidele Odimayo, a Microbial Pathologist said Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is spread when the blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem and the tenth leading cause of death globally. There is a high prevalence of HBV infection among Blacks.

According to him, a recent estimate from the Global Burden of Disease study and the World Health Organization (WHO), viral hepatitis is responsible for approximately 1.34 million deaths, annually with the African region accounting for about 63% of the global new infection burden. The World Health Organization reported that an estimate of about 2 million health care workers face the risk of occupational exposure to HBV annually and 90% of the infections that result from these exposures are in low-income countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa. 

"Though vaccination is considered the most effective means of preventing hepatitis B infection, the uptake of hepatitis B vaccination remains low in developing countries."

Relating the prevention, Prof Odimayo emphasizes having enough knowledge and proper attitudes toward the infection as crucial preventive measures against the infection.

One of the participants, Mrs Olatilewa lauded the initiative of the Governor in this remarkable adventure, characterized by free Hepatitis B treatment. The woman who described the treatment as a major dividend of democracy she has ever received in her life, said she has been diagnosed with the disease for over five (5) years without ability for treatment. 

"I was diagnosed to be positive to the Hepatitis B virus in 2019, and since then, I have been hoping for standard treatment until I heard that the government will be carrying out free treatment over the radio.  I want to thank our Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa for this initiative." 

"We have been hearing about his activities and efforts in the healthcare sector, but this is the biggest for me, and of course to everybody here, I doubted it when I heard the message but insisted I will try and go to the venue."

In their over a thousand numbers, the participants extolled the Governor for the benefit extended to people living with the virus. They sue for more kind gestures, using the medium to appeal to the government for expansion of the treatment programme as personal testing along with treatment is very exorbitant.