Health

WHO raises alarm over strange Hepatitis infections in kids

Published

2 years ago

July 29, 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday (July 29) raised alarm over a new outbreak of “unexplained acute hepatitis infections” affecting children across the world.
In a message to commemorate this year’s World Hepatitis Day, WHO said the new infections brought thousands of acute viral hepatitis infections occurring among children, adolescents, and adults yearly into focus.
As of April 21, at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin were reported from 11 countries in the WHO European Region and one country in the WHO Region of the Americas.
The cases were from the United Kingdom (114), Spain (13), Israel (12), the United States of America (9), Denmark (6), Ireland (5), The Netherlands (4), Italy (4), Norway (2), France (2), Romania (1), and Belgium (1).
WHO said it was working with scientists and policymakers in affected countries to understand the cause of the infection, which it said did not appear to belong to any of the known five types of hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E.
“This new outbreak brings focus on thousands of acute viral hepatitis infections that occur among children, adolescents, and adults every year. Most acute hepatitis infections cause mild disease and even go undetected. But in some cases, they can lead to complications and be fatal.”
In 2019 alone, an estimated 78,000 deaths occurred worldwide due to complications of acute hepatitis A to E infections.
According to the WHO, 1.1 million deaths occur yearly from hepatitis B and C infections, and 9.4 million people are receiving treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Only ten percent of people who have chronic infection with hepatitis B virus are diagnosed, and 22 percent of them receive treatment.
Forty-two percent of children globally have access to the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.
The world marks Hepatitis Day every July 28 to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, which causes inflammation of the liver that leads to severe disease and liver cancer.
This year, the WHO highlights the need to bring hepatitis care closer to primary health facilities and communities so that people can have better access to treatment and care, no matter what type of hepatitis they may have.
“Global efforts prioritize the elimination of the hepatitis infections B, C, and D infections. Unlike acute viral hepatitis, these three infections cause chronic hepatitis that lasts for several decades and culminates in over one million deaths per year from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
“These three types of chronic hepatitis infections are responsible for over 95 percent of hepatitis deaths. While we have the guidance and tools to diagnose, treat, and prevent chronic viral hepatitis, these services are often out of reach of communities and are sometimes only available at centralized/specialized hospitals.”
Meanwhile, the organization has urged nations across the globe to end hepatitis by 2030.
To achieve the goal, the agency called on countries to achieve specific targets, including reducing new infections of hepatitis B and C by 90 percent; and reducing hepatitis-related deaths from liver cirrhosis and cancer by 65 percent.
Others are: ensuring that at least 90 percent of people with hepatitis B and C virus are diagnosed, and at least 80 percent of those eligible receive appropriate treatment.

focusmagazineonline.com (C 2022)

Health

Nollywood star, Odunlade, joins Ogun health workers, take health insurance campaign to markets

Published

2 years ago

September 16, 2022

Afolayan Adebiyi

When next you passed through a market area in the ancient town of Abeokuta or any part of Ogun State, South West, Nigeria and you noticed a face much familiar with the Nollywood movies, particularly that of Odunlade Adekola, so not be taken aback or believed he’s acting another movie.

You cannot simply miss Adekola from a crowd. He’s tall. He’s huge. He carries a broad face; always with a broad smile.

Aside from his prolific movie acting and producing, Odunlade Adekola is an Ogun State Health Insurance Ambassador.

Therefore, the ace Nollywood actor, Adekola, in the company of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Tayo Lawal, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kayode Oladehinde, the Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency ( OGSHIA), Dr. Afolabi Dosumu, and his counterpart in the Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, among others are now on a roadshow within the Abeokuta metropolis to sensitize people about the State’s health insurance scheme.

The team has taken the campaign to major markets in a bid to promote the health insurance scheme among residents, irrespective of their status or occupation.

It could be recalled that the state government in June 2022 unveiled the much-celebrated actor with the aim of adopting his huge fan base as a catalyst to propagate the movement and acceptance of the scheme across the state.

The train which touched down at Kuto Market, Sapon, Omida, Itoku, Lafenwa and Oke-Ilewo, had the commuters, passersby, market women expressing their joy on sighting the Nigerian actor who freely danced and took ” selfies” with many of them.

Adekola encouraged the people to embrace the scheme and said Prince Dapo Abiodun’s investment in the health sector is a reference point.

He said that the monthly payment of a sum of N1,000 per head and N4,000 for a family of six would help fast-track government efforts toward achieving universal health coverage.

“None of us prays for sickness, but as we grow older, we tend to naturally have some health issues, which call for care.”

“With the monthly payment of N1,000 per person or N4,000 for a family of six, you don’t have to run from pillar to post to access healthcare.

“You will be issued an identity card which contains your details after completing your registration, and you will be allocated to the closest health facility to your house,” he said.

He further said that this monthly premium covers a number of cases of surgical operations, just as he pointed out that the health insurance scheme is an initiative that has come to stay in Ogun State.

Speaking with newsmen, the Executive Secretary of OGSHIA, Dr. Dosumu, said that the road show would be replicated in all four zones of the state, noting that Yewa, Ijebu, and Remo should expect Odunlade Adekola in their locations as well.

He said that the Health Insurance Ambassador is a well-known personality with more than five million followers on social media, saying that the purpose of the roadshow is to create awareness that will sink in people’s minds.

“The gains of this scheme are numerous. With a token of N1,000, we will take care of your health needs, be it medical or surgery. “We are taking this road show to the four political zones of the state and we are also targeting major markets to further enhance our awareness creation,” the Executive Secretary said.

www.focusmagazinesoline.com (C 2022)