VIRAL HEPATITIS: LAGOS EMBARKS ON STRATEGIC MEASURES, DATA DRIVE FOR DISEASE CONTROL

In a proactive move to combat Viral Hepatitis, the Lagos State Government rallied key stakeholders for an impactful engagement session geared towards developing preventive strategies and streamlining data collection for effective disease mitigation.

At the meeting held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Mrs. Kemi Ogunyemi, emphasised the criticality of preventive measures and data accuracy in curbing the silent threat of Viral Hepatitis.  

She explained that Viral Hepatitis remains a silent adversary that can be mitigated by the provision of preventive strategies as well as the efficient collection and rendition of data which will guide the development of efficient plans, interventions and resource allocation to fight the disease.

“The foundation of well-informed decision-making is data; data forms the bedrock of informed decision-making, guiding efficient plans, interventions, and resource allocation crucial in addressing complex issues like Viral Hepatitis”, she highlighted.

Ogunyemi explained further that the stakeholders’ engagement meeting which was organised in collaboration with relevant stakeholders is targeted at evaluating the state’s efforts to mitigate viral hepatitis and develop a cooperative plan of action involving all stakeholders to end viral hepatitis as a public health threat in the state.

In her words: “This collaborative effort aims to evaluate the state’s ongoing initiatives against Viral Hepatitis, leveraging insights from the recent African Hepatitis Summit. The goal is geared towards crafting a unified action plan involving all stakeholders to eradicate this public health threat”.

Highlighting the strides made under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, Mrs. Ogunyemi praised the Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, initiated in 2016, saying “This programme has significantly contributed to prevention, care, awareness, and treatment, thanks to robust political and financial support”.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye stressed the need for collective action, citing alarming statistics that over 16 million individuals in Nigeria are unaware of their Hepatitis B and C status, leaving them vulnerable to severe liver complications.

“This joint effort is essential in the fight against Viral Hepatitis. We aim for a lasting impact, driven by our commitment to health equity and compassion for all. We hope that our combined efforts will have a lasting impact on the battle against viral hepatitis and that our dedication to equity, health, and compassion will pave the road for a better, healthier future for all”, Dr. Ogboye remarked.

He stated further that the stakeholders’ meeting will serve as a critical platform to unite, share knowledge and collectively chart a course toward shaping the future of hepatitis prevention, diagnosis and treatment, adding that the state government will delve into prevention strategies and also prioritise collaborative efforts between governmental bodies, non-governmental organisations, healthcare professionals as well as the wider community.

Also, the Director, Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Rotimi Agbolagorite stated that the government recognises the impact viral hepatitis has on the health and well-being of the people, adding that the agenda of the government will encompass a comprehensive exploration of the state’s epidemiological landscape, solutions to data renditions as well as challenges in diagnosis and treatment.

The State viral hepatitis Control Programme Coordinator, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho assured that the present administration will not relent in putting in place various strategies in the fight against viral hepatitis, noting that the state will always be open to productive collaborations with the private sector in the fight against the disease.

“We want to expand our horizon, to have more interface with the private sector because we know our data is more dominant with the private sector, and we realise that we cannot do it alone as governments. We need to have a robust collaboration with the private sector such that we’ll have a basis for an advocacy tool”, she said.