In order to ensure medical fitness of staff for optimum productivity, the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) in collaboration with Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, have convened a health-inclined public activity with emphasis on Hepatitis B, a serious liver infection caused by Hepatitis B virus that is easily preventable by vaccination. The disease is described as “much more infectious than HIV and Covid-19.”
Director General of the Agency, Engr Simon Nkom who said the session was convened to educate staff on importance of routine checks, said while the agency prays for longevity and prosperity of staff, it is aware of the need to encourage staff, especially those above age 40, to embarked on routine medical check-up, stating that early diagnosis is important as it has led to permanent treatment of some otherwise terminal diseases.
“It is sad that a lot of people who are above 40 died not particularly because they had Hepatitis B or Prostate Cancer, but because the diagnosis came at a time when it was too late for the disease to be managed,” he said, adding that some terminal illnesses can be effectively managed or even cured if diagnosed early enough. He therefore encouraged staff to pay attention to medical experts who discussed pertinent challenges about healthcare especially for those who have attained the age of 40.
Chief Medical Director, Kinetic Hospital, Abuja, Dr Adewunmi Ayodele who spoke at the forum that was organized by the MCO management in collaboration with the Staff Union, lamented that the public is not aware that certain diseases are a lot more infectious than HIV and Covid-19, stating that “Hepatitis B is much more infectious than HIV and Covid-19.”
While saying that “about 30 million Nigerians currently have Hepatitis B,” he noted that it is very important to know what to do to be safe, stating that “the first step is to be screened for such ailment as Hepatitis B.”
“The next step will be determined by the outcome of the screening,” he said, adding that you either screen into vaccination or diagnosis.
“If you have Hepatitis B, you will need drugs for management and possible treatment,” he said, while emphasizing the importance of prevention over cure.
“If you have not been vaccinated against Hepatitis B, ensure that you are vaccinated. Screening, vaccination or more investigation is needed to classify where you belong.”
He agreed with the Director General that early treatment and management of illnesses have been found to be very helpful in some cases, as early diagnosis and treatment may lead to total cure of Hepatitis B.
He explained that Hepatitis ‘C’ behaves like Hepatitis ‘B’ except that it causes cirrhosis of the liver which refers to hardening of the liver. Once the liver is hardening, it is useless. Hepatitis C is not as infectious as Hepatitis B.
“While there are vaccines for Hepatitis A and B, there is yet to be a vaccine for Hepatitis C,” he said, adding that research and development of vaccines is not cost effective.
Engr Simon Nkom thanked Dr Ayodele for the resourceful presentation, stating that “Health is wealth.”
“Infections have an incubation period, and it is necessary to have regular checkups to know what to treat at every point in time.
“Although we are engineers, and geoscientists, we must not forget that we need good health to practice our various professions.
The Director General also commended the union for working with management to provide the platform for knowledge-sharing.
“We encourage staff to embark on screening of Hepatitis B and other infectious diseases to ensure fitness to work. It can be screening for hepatitis B, or screening for other infectious diseases that are not noticeable at onset, Nkom said.
“We would not want to lose staff based on kidney challenges; we wish to encourage staff to embark on routine medical checkup in order to benefit from the advantages of early diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases if any.
