Reps ask FG to make hepatitis testing, vaccination mandatory for under-five children

The house of representatives has asked the federal government, through the federal ministry of health, to make hepatitis testing, vaccination, and treatment mandatory for children below five years.

The lawmakers said this will ensure the containment and prevention of the spread of the virus.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Kwamoti Laori, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Adamawa state.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines hepatitis as an inflammation of the liver caused by infectious viruses and noninfectious agents which could lead to a range of health problems.

There are five main types of hepatitis virus — A, B, C, D and E. The strains differ in modes of transmission, severity of the illness and prevention methods.

Moving the motion, the lawmaker said “viral hepatitis is highly communicable from mother to child through child delivery, contact with infected blood, infected body fluids such as saliva, vaginal fluids, and semen during unsafe sexual intercourse, contact with infected injections, or exposure to sharp instruments, as well as from infected to uninfected children between the ages of 0-5 years”.

According to a WHO report, an estimated 354 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B or C.

The report said Nigeria has more than 20 million people living with hepatitis B, C, or both; yet more than 80 percent of the people who have the disease do not know their status.

The lawmaker claimed that despite a $3 billion immunisation programme covering 2018 to 2028,  most infected patients are yet to benefit from the available vaccine and effective treatment.

He said as a result of this, new infections from mother-to-child and from one infected child to other uninfected children ages zero to five years have spiraled, further increasing the spread of viral hepatitis and risk of death from the lethal infection throughout the country.

The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house who presided over the plenary.

Consequently, the house asked the ministry of information and national orientation and relevant agencies to create awareness on testing, vaccination, treatment, and prevention of the spread of viral hepatitis in the country.

The house also mandated the committee on healthcare services to investigate the “alarming rate” of viral hepatitis.