Braimah Salifu
Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Russia
Title: Some ways by which screening and prevention of hepatitis can be made aware to the people worldwide
Biography
Biography: Braimah Salifu
Abstract
Liver diseases are factors that cause damage to the liver, such as viruses, some drugs and alcohol use, but can also be genetically inherited. Obesity is also associated with liver damage. Over time, damage to the liver results in scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver tissue – which is one of the most serious liver problems. The most common cause worldwide is viruses. Other causes include heavy alcohol use, certain medications, toxins, other infections, autoimmune diseases, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). There are five main types of viral hepatitis: type A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A and E are mainly spread by contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B is mainly sexually transmitted, but may also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth. Both hepatitis B and hepatitis C are commonly spread through infected blood – these may occur during needle sharing by intravenous drug users. Hepatitis D can only infect people already infected with hepatitis B.
It’s necessary, therefore, to make screening in order to evaluate the kind of liver disease (hepatitis) a patient is suffering in order to administer the patient with the appropriate treatment or to prevent any kind of liver disease (hepatitis) after screening.
Ways by which screening and prevention awareness can be made worldwide are:
- Education: global education programs about hepatitis should be held twice of thrice annually. These programs should highlight on the dangers and effects of hepatitis. These programs can be held in schools and other institutions. The government together with the health sector has a role to play.
- Social Media: awareness of screening and prevention of hepatitis and liver diseases can be made through the media such TV show, Radio programs, Facebook, WhatsApp, VK, Instagram, YouTube, Internet, etc. At least, every human being on earth uses one of these platforms. For example, WhatsApp is almost everywhere and if we do have a popping messages about the screening and prevention of hepatitis and liver diseases through this medium, it will be a help to get people aware.
- Door-to-door: awareness can be made worldwide by door-to-door interactions with people. This can be done by coordination of organisations around the world and sending of workers or volunteers from these organisations to educate the people about the screening and prevention of hepatitis.