Hepatitis Doesn’t Mean the End – Here’s What You Should Know

Contrary to what many people think, being diagnosed with hepatitis doesn’t mean life is over. Health experts are now speaking out to break this dangerous myth, especially as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark World Hepatitis Day, celebrated every July 28.

At an awareness event organised by Ultimate Health Management Services, healthcare professionals called on Nigerians to take hepatitis seriously—but not fear it unnecessarily.

“Hepatitis is not a death sentence,” said Justina Adeyemi, a registered nurse and Assistant Manager in the Medical and Quality Assurance Department of the health firm. She explained that people who test positive for hepatitis can live healthy, productive lives with proper treatment.

Adeyemi emphasized the importance of early screening, noting that identifying the virus early can prevent serious complications like liver damage or cancer. “Once someone tests positive, they can start medication that helps them manage the virus and live well,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Daniel Abdul, Head of the Medical and Quality Assurance Unit, highlighted simple ways hepatitis—especially Hepatitis B—can be prevented. These include:

Regular hand washing

Getting vaccinated

Avoiding the sharing of sharp objects like razors or needles

Ensuring pregnant women get screened to avoid passing the virus to their babies

He stressed that prevention and awareness are crucial: “Many people carry the virus unknowingly and may infect others. That’s why screening is so important.”

This year’s World Hepatitis Day carries the theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”, a call by the World Health Organization (WHO) to eliminate the barriers—like cost, stigma, and misinformation—that stop people from getting help.

The WHO warns that chronic hepatitis B and C are silent killers. They gradually damage the liver over time, often without symptoms—until it’s too late. But the good news? They’re preventable, treatable, and even curable, especially in the case of hepatitis C.

Health experts are calling on the government and private health providers to make screening, vaccination, and treatment more accessible, so that by 2030, hepatitis will no longer be a public health threat.

So, if you’ve never been screened for hepatitis, now is the time. Protect your liver, protect your life—because hepatitis can be beaten.