By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
The Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) at State Hospital Oyo, Dr Olaniyi Ogundokun, has urged Nigerians to take immediate precautions to prevent the transmission of infections like Hepatitis B.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan, Ogundokun stressed the urgency of avoiding practices that exposed individuals to contaminated blood.
He specifically warned the public to avoid sharing sharp objects and strongly advised against taking injections in uncertified facilities or hospitals.
Furthermore, he enjoined people to avoid female circumcision, advising that male circumcision should be done at certified/verified facilities.
Also, he cautioned against unscreened blood transfusions at uncertified health facilities and urged people to desist from sharing hair clippers, ensuring adequate sterilisation when using them.
Ogundokun urged people to practice safe sex, while advising spouses of Hepatitis B positive patients to immediately get screened for the infection.
“If negative for Hepatitis B, get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“Family members and close contacts of positive patients are also advised to get screened (tested) and if found negative, get vaccinated/immunised as soon as possible.
“All pregnant women are advised to register for Antenatal Clinic promptly and get screened.
“This will guide the health practitioner to take necessary action to prevent transmission to the newborn child if mother is Hepatitis B positive.
“All new born babies should also be promptly vaccinated for HEP B Virus as scheduled in the Nigeria immunisation schedule for children because transmission is high among children,” he said.
According to him, Liver Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer are the two commonest causes of liver related deaths.
He emphasised that they could be prevented by preventing Hepatitis B virus transmission and avoiding chronic alcohol abuse as well as indiscriminate use of drugs.
Ogundokun further enjoined people with liver disease or liver tumor(benign or malignant) to seek medical treatment immediately.
“Sharing sharp objects is not advisable as they may have had contact with blood, hence, if shared, may transmit blood borne disease such as Hepatitis B Virus.
“The same applies to blood transmission, shared clippers, and circumcision in unverified and uncertified facilities and those who do not take the specified precautionary sterilising measures,” he said. (NAN)
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