About 6,702 persons tested positive for Hepatitis B Virus out of the 50,000 people screened for both Hepatitis B and C in almost 500 locations in the country, Hepatitis Zero Commission Nigeria has said.

 

The HZCN said the test was carried  during this year’s World Hepatitis Week  from  July 20  to 28 by the Nigerian Commission of World Hepatitis Eradication Initiative in collaboration with Rotarian Action Group for Hepatitis Eradication, in partnership with 120 Rotary Clubs and 32 civil society organisations.

 

The President of HZCN, Dr Mike Omotosho, who stated these during a press conference in Abuja, said 1,086 tested positive for Hepatitis C virus. He  raised concerns over the increase in the number of persons infected with Hepatitis B Virus in the country,  estimated at 20 million.

 

Omotosho lamented that although Hepatitis B presently has no cure, it could be prevented. The  Chairman, Board of Advisors, Hepatitis Zero, Nigeria Commission Global Eradication Project, Prof Rotimi Jaiyesimi, urged the Federal Government to support   the  efforts to eradicate Hepatitis in  the country.

 

He said, “The Nigerian Commission of World Hepatitis Eradication Initiative in collaboration with Rotarian Action Group for Hepatitis Eradication screened about 50,000 people for both Hepatitis B and C in almost 500 locations. “The test was carried out in partnership with 120 Rotary Clubs and 32 CLOs  and 6,702 were seropositive for the Hepatitis B Virus, while 1,086 were positive for Hepatitis C virus.”