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Nigeria Hits 8.1% Prevalence In Hepatitis B – Health Commissioner

Published

2 years ago

July 28, 2023

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this Year’s Hepatitis Day, today, statistics have shown that the country’s current Hepatitis B prevalence stands at 8.1%, while that of Hepatitis C is 1.1%.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, disclosed this yesterday in a state broadcast as part of events marking this year’s World Hepatitis Day.
The World Hepatitis Day is marked on the 28th of July globally. This year’s theme is, “One Life, One Liver”.
Dr. Oreh said there are an estimated 354 million people living with Hepatitis B and C, out of this number, over 290 million of them are not aware of their status.
“Hepatitis continues to spread if we do not identify and link infected people to care”, she stated.
She added, “According to the National HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) 2018, our country, Nigeria, bears a huge burden of viral Hepatitis with a prevalence rate of 8.1% for Hepatitis B and 1.1% for Hepatitis C.
“This translates to an estimated 19 million people for Hepatitis B and C including co-infection of both”.
Explaining the essence of the World Hepatitis Day, the effect of Hepatitis and its mode of transmission, the commissioner said, “World Hepatitis Day is, indeed, an opportunity for us to increase awareness and jointly facilitate the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of viral Hepatitis with a view to saving lives.
“Viral Hepatitis is an infection that affects the liver, causing both acute and chronic diseases. They are commonly transmitted through contact with blood and other body fluids, as well as from mother to child during pregnancy and delivery”.
Oreh identified five types of Hepatitis viruses as A,B,C,D and E, saying that all have been found to be “clinically relevant”.
”However”, she explained, “viral Hepatitis B and C carry special clinical significance as a result of chronicity and pathogenicity, with 80% of liver cancer cases being attributed to both types.
“Hepatitis B and C can also be transmitted through unprotected sex”, adding that this is why it is essential to embrace preventive measures such as “vaccination, testing and safe sex in combating the spread of the disease”.
While emphasizing that viral Hepatitis B and C are not transmissible through hugging, sneezing, coughing or sharing eating utensils, Dr. Oreh said viral Hepatitis is only known at an advanced stage.
“The liver silently performs over 500 vital functions every single day to keep us alive, but viral Hepatitis is also silent with symptoms, only appearing once the disease is advanced.
“Hepatitis viruses B and C can cause nearly 8,000 new infections every day, which are mostly going undetected. This results in one new chronic infection every 10 seconds, and over one million hepatitis-related deaths every year, making liver health fundamental to human health”.
According to the commissioner, knowledge of viral Hepatitis remains low amongst Nigerians, despite being a leading infectious cause of death
Consequently, she said, “most of the estimated 19 million Nigerians living with Viral Hepatitis B or C are under-diagnosed, increasing the likelihood of transmission to others and placing them at greater risk of severe, even fatal health complications.
“People living with Hepatitis need treatment, care and support. They should not be stigmatized, discriminated against or marginalized”.
Oreh, however, noted that Hepatitis B and C infections and deaths are preventable because there are vaccines and effective treatments for Hepatitis B and even a cure for Hepatitis C.
She said, “The designated flag ship and apex center for the testing and treatment of Hepatitis in the state is the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.
“A technical working group also meets for continuous improvement of service delivery for Hepatitis and to ramp-up efforts in the elimination of Viral Hepatitis in the state.
“Furthermore, additional facilities for improved testing and vaccination will soon be activated in selected local government areas of the State.
“It is on record that the Rivers State Government has functional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines calibrated for Hepatitis and domiciled at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital”.
She, therefore, urged the public “to be proactive in raising awareness and support in the prevention and treatment of Hepatitis in the State to guarantee a Hepatitis free future.
“I encourage you to get tested and determine your status. Early testing means early and timely detection and treatment that can save lives”.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo

News

Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.

According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.

He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.

According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.

He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.

“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.

Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.

“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.

“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.

“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.

“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.

In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.

He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.

While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.

Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.

He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community

Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.

Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.

She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.

Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.

Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.

She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.

By: John Bibor

News

Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.

The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.

He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.

He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.

The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.

He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.

He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.

Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.

According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.

News

NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.

The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.

Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.

Dr. Ogbuku represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.

He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.

“ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.

when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated

He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.

Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.

In his keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,

Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.

The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.

By: Akujobi Amadi