Every year, July 28 is marked as World Hepatitis Day, WHD. The theme of this year’s WHD is “Prevent Hepatitis. Act Now”.

Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a group of virus known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Annually, viral hepatitis affects 400 million people worldwide, causing acute and chronic liver disease and killing about 1.5 million people (4,000 people daily), mostly from hepatitis B and C (HBV & HCV). Yet, it is entirely preventable. With better awareness and application of its preventive measures, this life-threatening disease could be eliminated and 4,000 lives could be saved daily, underscoring the importance of the theme of WHD 2015.

Viral Hepatitis causes 80 percent of liver cancer deaths. This fact makes hepatitis a target disease of the Big War Against Cancer in Nigeria, the current focal cause of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria). The first phase of the Big War is aimed at “Taking holistic health care to the Grassroots” by raising funds to acquire and deploy 37 Mobile Cancer Centres (MCC), one for each state and Abuja.

Over 83 percent of cases of liver cancer occur in developing countries. In Nigeria, liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, accounting for over 11,000 deaths yearly and 32 deaths every day. A recent well-known male Nigerian casualty is Senator Khalifa Zanna, a recently re-elected Senator of Borno State, who died at the age of 60 on May 16, 2015. On that same day, 31 other Nigerians also died of liver cancer, unknown and unsung, but not unloved. Liver cancer is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for over 700,000 deaths yearly.

The leading cause of liver cancer is cirrhosis (damage of liver cells and replacement with scar tissue) due to either HBV, HCV, or chronic alcoholism. In 2013, 300,000 deaths from liver cancer were due to hepatitis B, 343,000 to hepatitis C and 92,000 to alcohol. Other risk factors include: Aflatoxin exposure, obesity, diabetes, and smoking.

Signs and symptoms of liver cancer often do not show up until the later stages of the disease. Some of the most common symptoms of liver cancer are: weight loss (without trying), loss of appetite, feeling very full after a small meal, nausea or vomiting, liver and spleen enlargement, belly pain or pain near the right shoulder blade, swelling or fluid build-up in the belly, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).

The survival rate from liver cancer is generally poor because liver cancer progresses rapidly, and treatment options are limited. Thus, prevention is the key to reducing liver cancer deaths.

One of the most successful ways of preventing liver cancer is vaccination against hepatitis B. The first dose of this vaccine is now being given at birth. The vaccine is safe and effective, giving life-long protection from HBV infection and HBV-related chronic disease and liver cancer.

Vaccination for HCV is currently unavailable. However, antiviral medicines can cure HCV infection. Other ways of preventing hepatitis include limiting transmission of these viruses by avoiding sharing of needles and other items such as toothbrushes or razors or nail. Avoid getting tattoos or body piercings from unlicensed facilities, screening of blood donation products, and safer sex practices, also protect against transmission. Reducing alcohol abuse, obesity, and diabetes would also reduce rates of liver cancer.

Screening and early diagnosis can prevent health problems that may result from viral hepatitis infection and prevent transmission of the virus. Treatment with drugs, including oral antiviral agents can decrease the risk of liver cancer.

Reversing the current hepatitis and liver cancer epidemic calls for massive awareness and widespread availability of these interventions.

In Nigeria, the Mobile Cancer Centre, MCC, being championed by the CECP would be an excellent means of facilitating health education, screening as well as vaccination against hepatitis at the grassroots.

An MCC is much more than a Mobile Mammogram. Rather, it is a clinic on wheels, in which cancer screening, follow-up and treatment (including surgeries), can take place. It also contains facilities for screening against most common diseases, including the 10 Major Cancer-related killer diseases (Diabetes, Renal Disease, Obesity, Malaria, Schistosomiasis, Helicobacter pylori, Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Hypertension).

In line with the theme of this year’s World Hepatitis Day, the CECP- Nigeria hereby invites all Nigerians to ACT! (Attack Cancer Together!). This could be done through advocacy and by donating towards the acquisition and deployment of the MCC. Be a voice for the 1,800 lives lost to hepatitis – related liver cancer every day!

“By moving forward together we have the potential to show Cancer: It is not beyond us.”– UICC 2015. By Dr. Abia Nzelu, Executive Secretary, CECP-Nigeria. For more details, contact [email protected] or [email protected]