World Hepatitis Day: Have You Been Tested Yet?

By Abowine Alfred

Hepatitis is simply the inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by alcohol consumption, use of some drugs and certain other health conditions. But the most common causes are viral infections.

There are five main classifications of viral hepatitis based on the type of virus that is causing it and they are; Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D and Hepatitis E. However, hepatitis B and C are the most common types of viral hepatitis. The WHO estimates that 354 million people across the world are living with chronic Hepatitis B and C and causes more than one million deaths each year. These two are transmitted via contact with body fluids such as vagina secretions and semen. Sharing same razor and having multiple sexual partners increases your chance of being infected.

People living with chronic Hepatitis B and C may not show any symptoms unless the liver is severely affected such that it cannot perform it function. The thing about the liver is that you only need about 30% of the size of your liver for it to function properly. This means that the time your liver get affected to the time you start experiencing any symptoms, more than half of your liver is gone. Early testing, treatment and monitoring goes a long way to help.

However, people with acute hepatitis may present with fatigue, loss of appetite, coke-like urine, abdominal pains, yellow eyes and unexplained weight loss. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, visit the nearest health facility for screening.

The good thing about viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis B is that you can be protected against it. Yes you can. Just by visiting a hospital to be tested for it and once you are negative you get vaccinated.

The theme for this year’s world hepatitis day celebration is; “I CAN’T WAIT” which seeks to urge global funders, governmental leaders, policy and decision makers to act by increasing investment and financing hepatitis elimination. I use this opportunity to call on the Ministry of Health and the Health Service to do more in terms of awareness creation.