A member of House of Representatives, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, has called on Federal and State Governments through their respective Ministries of Health, Information and the National Orientation Agency to create awareness on the prevention and fight against the viral Hepatitis.
Hon. Etteh, who is representing Eket/ONNA/Esit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, made this call at the weekend while speaking with journalists in Abuja on during the commemoration of the 2023 World Hepatitis Day, with them, ‘We Are Not Waiting’.
He specifically urged government to make the fight against Hepatitis effective by empowering communities to confront the challenge head-on and prioritizing prevention campaigns and public awareness.
Hon. Etteh, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, said, “As the world’s hepatitis community unites today to make their voices heard, I sincerely appeal to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency at both federal and state levels to double effort and create more awareness against the deadly Hepatitis. They should make drugs available to Nigerians in all Primary Health Centres across the nation.”
While noting that Hepatitis has continued to pose a threat to public health worldwide, the Federal Lawmaker stressed that it was demoralizing to know that over 19 million Nigerians are living with the viral disease.
He stated that “viral hepatitis knows no boundaries, It affects people regardless of age, gender, or socio-economic status, therefore the burden of this disease on families, communities, and healthcare systems cannot be underestimated.
“It is important that communities are empowered to confront this challenge head-on, by prioritizing prevention education and public awareness which are key weapons in the fight against viral hepatitis.
“The 2023 WHD is another opportunity for us to celebrate the progress we have made so far as a nation and to also rise to meet the current challenges. Awareness must be increased and encouraged. Those of us in the political class must facilitate prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the viral Hepatitis. We must take action because Hepatitis Can’t Wait.”
He equally called on Nigerians to make concerted effort collectively to create Hepatitis awareness, in order for everyone to know their hepatitis status and to spread the word about treatment.
