Stories

Viral hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver caused by one or more of the five main hepatic viruses; A, B, C, D and E. These viruses have similar symptoms and have the potential to cause liver disease to varying degrees; however, they vary significantly in terms of epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment and care. Hepatitis is a major global health problem with over five hundred million (500,000,000) patients chronically infected and causing over one million (1,000,000) deaths annually.

Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest burden of viral hepatitis with a prevalence of 11% of Hepatitis B and 2.2% of Hepatitis C.

The level of knowledge of viral hepatitis remains low amongst Nigerians despite the fact that it is, a leading infectious cause of death and claims the lives of many each year.