Specialists call for more research on liver disorders

General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) 

The fight against Hepatitis and other liver disorders in Nigeria received a major boost at the Annual General Meeting of the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria, SOGHIN, held in Lagos recently. 
The forum brought together specialists in the management of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and ancillary organs including the liver.
Former Nigerian head of State and Ambassador General for viral Hepatitis, Rtd General Yakubu Gowon, called for incisive national effort towards tackling the menace of hepatitis and related liver disorders.  
“I was shocked when I realized that close to 20 million Nigerians are infected with this disease and I still couldn’t imagine how we got this point ."
Gowon who was Special Guest, said Nigerians should rise up to the challenge as it did against Guinea worm and polio.
Speaking at the scientific conference during the AGM, President of SOGHIN , Professor Musa Borodo, stressed the need for comprehensive research  because diseases that are associated with the liver are wide and require knowledge and skills. 
“Sub-Saharan Africa has 75 percent liver disease and Nigeria has the largest population with over 23 million”, he said. 
Borodo added that “the neglect of the chronic Hepatitis B and C get into complication, showing symptoms like swollen up, vomiting blood ,yellow eye and tiredness. 
“These symptoms develop due to neglect and patience are advised to go to the Hospital for checkup and if positive, they should seek urgent medical attention”. Negligence he said can lead to liver cancer and the need, which is the need for the  public to be aware of the features and risk factors of the disease.
At the conference, the various presentations advised that the most important thing is for everyone to know their status, go for screening at least once in a while, if infected get treated, if not get vaccinated against been infected. Pregnant women are to go for regular screening for hepatitis so that infected mothers do not pass the virus to their unborn children. 
As a way to boost the campaign against viral hepatitis, SOGHIN in conjunction with the Federal Government joined other World Health Organisation countries to launch the guideline for hepatitis treatment in Abuja to mark World Hepatitis Day, aimed at achieving the global goal of eliminating the disease to ensure a hepatitis free world.