By Kemo Cham
This month the world commemorates World Hepatitis Day (WHD). Sierra Leone will for the first time be joining in marking the day set aside to raise awareness about the illness. Medical experts say the lack of knowledge about hepatitis poses increased danger to its victims.
Hepatitis is a medical condition of inflammation of the liver. Its symptoms include malaise, muscle and joint aches, fever, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea, and headache. More specific symptoms are said to appear when the infection becomes acute, and they include profound loss of appetite, extreme dislike for smoking, dark urine, yellowing of the eyes and skin and abdominal discomfort.
However, an infected person may or may not display any symptom. And the disease, if not cured in time which sometimes happens without intervention of the patient, can often lead to a condition called jaundice (yellowing of the pigment of the skin, among other complications).
The most common form of hepatitis is the viral hepatitis, which is caused by one of five viruses - hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. These can be contracted through sweat or the use of unsterilized barbing equipment, and even sex.
A second form of hepatitis is contracted through consumption of toxic substances especially alcoholic drinks, something which often leads to cirrhosis and liver failure, as well as industrial organic solvents and even some medication - making it even trickier.
Like for many diseases, there is hardly any statistics to show the exact scale of the problem of hepatitis in Sierra Leone. But organisers of the WHD, which is scheduled for July 28, say it could set the pace for awareness raising which is crucial for gathering data.
The National Alliance for Hepatitis Sierra Leone (NAH-SL) is organising the commemorations.
"Sierra Leone has a nascent hepatitis epidemic and there is paucity of research data and public awareness about the infection," Pharm Kweku Laurd Mensah, Executive Director of NAH-SL, told a press conference last week, ahead of preparations for the day.
Globally, hepatitis in general affects hundreds of millions of people and it is said to be the world's 8th biggest killer, yet among the most neglected illnesses.
Viral hepatitis alone kills 1.5 million worldwide each year, according to the World Hepatitis Alliance. That's as many people killed by the much trumpeted HIV/AIDS, it said.
Hepatitis B and C are said to be the most serious of all, and are the most common causes of cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. In fact, hepatitis B virus is said to be 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV.
These two types of hepatitis commonly spread through blood to blood contact and other bodily fluids like saliva or semen. The two are sometimes referred to as the 'silent' diseases as patients often show no symptoms and therefore are unaware of their infection.
One in 12 people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B or C and majority of these people have no idea they are infected. This is why it is very important to get tested.
If you are a drug user, you are even at greater risk of contracting hepatitis B and C because the inclination to the use of unsafe injection, including unsterile needles and syringes.
In contrast, Hepatitis C virus can survive in the body far longer than Hepatitis B can, and so the former is more likely to become chronic.
Another difference between the two is that unlike hepatitis B, there is currently no vaccine available to prevent viral infection of Hepatitis C. The bottom line: testing!
Commemoration of the day is therefore meant to encourage diagnosis, and call for access to treatment, better prevention programmes and government action.
This year's event has been set on the theme - "Hepatitis: Think Again". It will be the 7th commemoration since the World Hepatitis Alliance, in collaboration with patient groups, designated May 19, in 2008, as the day for reflections on the disease.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) only recognised the global celebrations in 2010, when it reset the commemoration for July 28, following the adoption of a resolution during the 63rd World Health Assembly. Since then, the day has been one of eight official global public health campaigns recognised by the global health body, along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunisation Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day and World AIDS Day.
WHD is also one of only four official disease-specific world health days.
NAH-SL has earmarked a series of activities for its commemoration which will be climaxed with a seminar that will offer opportunity, perhaps for the first time, for people living with any form of hepatitis in Sierra Leone, to get first hand information on what it's about or how to cope with it.
(C) Politico 22/07/14
