Nigerians have been advised to go for medical screening in order to ascertain their Hepatitis status.This is because the disease which affects the disease which affects the liver may be sometimes asymptomatic, causing huge damage before discovery.
Delivering a lecture at a seminar organised by a health organization known as the Firmcare Medical Diagonistics, Dr Agnes Egugie, the a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at the National Hospital, said it was needful to check one’s status so as to start early treatment if need be adding that the disease is manageable.
She maintained that, not knowing one’s status was highly risky.
“Largely, Hepatitis c is asymptomatic and by the time it starts showing symptoms like: Jaundice, stomach and leg swelling, weight loss among others, a huge part of the liver would have been damaged.”
She also noted that it was the more reason why the group advocates medical screening in for the general Nigerian public.
In an interview, the company’s Medical Director, Dr Dolamu Jawando said the call to treat hepatitis became imperative as it was discovered that many cases either went unreported or denied adequate treatment.
He said, Nigeria may be sitting on a time bomb in the nearest future if concern, including positive steps to mitigate the spread is not taken.
The MD further said that the seminar which was it’s annual Maiden edition was meant to spur doctors and enlighten them on why treating the disease adequately was ideal.
“Nigerians only go for screening incidentally, maybe when there is a requirement for that, this is unfortunate ; when they screen and are diagnosed to be positive, they are not able to get adequate care because some doctors think there is no point in treating hepatitis”, he added.
