According to a news report from News Central, Amina El-Imam, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, announced that the state government will commence hepatitis screenings on Tuesday, aiming to reach 5,000 individuals. This initiative was revealed on Monday in Ilorin during an event commemorating the 2024 World Hepatitis Day (WHD), organised by the Kwara Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHD, observed annually on July 28, focuses on raising awareness about hepatitis—a group of infectious diseases including hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. The day promotes the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions.

Hepatitis, which can lead to acute or chronic liver inflammation, affects hundreds of millions of people globally and can be fatal. In some countries, hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Ms El-Imam noted that the screenings will take place at various tertiary institutions, marketplaces, and healthcare facilities across the state. Individuals identified during the screenings will be referred to appropriate health facilities for further treatment and medication.

She noted that “people are generally more aware of HIV/AIDS than they are of hepatitis, despite the fact that hepatitis can be more infectious than HIV.” She went on to clarify that the ways HIV and hepatitis are transmitted are alike, and the treatment centres for HIV will also manage cases of hepatitis.

The commissioner also cautioned against participating in damaging cultural traditions like scarification, tribal marks, tattoos, circumcision, and female genital mutilation (FGM), which can raise the likelihood of contracting hepatitis.

“Some of these are cultural practices that can cause harm. No single race, tribe, or culture is 100% perfect. Do not practice culture that can cause harm,” she said.