OAUTHC Commemorates World Hepatitis Day, Urges Early Detection and Vaccination.

The Gastroenterology Unit, of the Department of Internal Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 2026 World Hepatitis Day on July 28 with a series of awareness activities aimed at educating the public on hepatitis prevention, early detection and treatment.

In line with this year's theme, "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down," the department organised an awareness lecture and offered free hepatitis screening for members of staff and the public to encourage people to know their hepatitis status and seek appropriate care where necessary.

Speaking at the event, the Head of Gastroenterology unit, Prof. Olusegun Adekanle, said the World Health Organization (WHO) encourages countries to commemorate World Hepatitis Day annually to increase awareness of the disease and promote its prevention and control. According to him, hepatitis B and C remain major public health concerns, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where the burden of the disease is highest. He explained that many people live with the virus for years without symptoms, making early detection difficult until serious complications such as liver cirrhosis or liver cancer develop, often after 20 to 25 years.

Dr. Adekanle stressed the importance of regular screening to enable early diagnosis and timely intervention. He encouraged everyone to know their hepatitis status, receive vaccination if they are not infected, and seek appropriate treatment if diagnosed with the virus to prevent life-threatening complications. He noted that the WHO's goal is to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by ensuring that those who are not infected remain protected through vaccination and those infected receive appropriate care.

Delivering the keynote lecture, a Senior Registrar in the Unit, Dr. Ibukunoluwa Enesi, gave a comprehensive presentation on the theme, highlighting the WHO's 2030 target of reducing new hepatitis infections by 95 per cent and hepatitis-related deaths by 65 per cent.

Dr. Enesi listed several routes through which hepatitis B can be transmitted, including mother-to-child transmission during or shortly after birth, transfusion of infected blood, use of unsterilised needles, sharing of sharp objects such as clippers and razors, tattooing with contaminated equipment, exposure to infected wounds, use of contaminated butchers' knives, intravenous drug use and unprotected sexual intercourse.

He explained that hepatitis often presents no symptoms in its early stages. However, when symptoms occur, they may include fever, abdominal pain, joint pain and dark-coloured urine.

Speaking on prevention, Dr. Enesi described vaccination as the most effective preventive measure against hepatitis B. He explained that newborns who receive the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine are significantly protected against infection and its long-term complications, including liver cancer. He added that healthcare workers are also at increased risk of exposure and should ensure they are vaccinated.

The Senior Registrar also highlighted major barriers to hepatitis care, including inadequate public awareness, misinformation, the high cost of testing and treatment, shortage of trained healthcare personnel, inadequate diagnostic infrastructure and the stigma associated with the disease, which often discourages affected individuals from seeking care.

Also speaking at the event, an Honorary Consultant in the unit, Dr Oluwasegun Ijarotimi, reiterated that hepatitis B is a preventable disease and is best managed before symptoms develop. He emphasised the importance of regular monitoring, explaining that hepatitis B testing may be repeated after six months to one year, depending on individual circumstances, to determine when treatment may become necessary.

He urged members of the public to take advantage of available vaccination and screening services, while calling for an end to discrimination against people living with hepatitis.

The event concluded with free hepatitis screening for participants, reinforcing the department's commitment to promoting early diagnosis, prevention and improved public awareness as part of the global effort to eliminate viral hepatitis.