By Emmanuel Sampson
In a renewed effort to combat the growing burden of viral hepatitis and reduce the incidence of liver cancer in Nigeria, OncoBridge Foundation, in collaboration with the International Cancer Centre and the Prof. Nkanta Frank Ekanem Foundation Incorporated (PNFF), commemorated World Hepatitis Day with a robust public awareness campaign under the theme, “Let’s Break It Down.”
The outreach, held at the Primary Health Centre, West Itam, featured a road walk, public awareness campaign, health education on viral hepatitis, free hepatitis screening, linkage of non-reactive participants to Hepatitis B vaccination, structured counselling sessions, and sensitization on Hepatitis B prevention, complications, and available vaccines.
Speaking during the event, the Founder of OncoBridge Foundation, Dr. Maurice Johnson, a public health expert, reiterated the foundation’s commitment to promoting cancer prevention and improving healthcare access in rural communities across Nigeria.
According to Dr. Johnson, the initiative was designed to educate members of the public on the dangers of viral hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis B, which remains one of the leading causes of liver cancer despite being largely preventable.
He lamented the low level of awareness surrounding the disease, noting that many Nigerians are unaware that several forms of viral hepatitis including Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E—exist.
“Viral hepatitis is a very important public health issue, but unfortunately, many people do not even know that such diseases exist. Hepatitis B is the commonest and most dangerous because it is the leading cause of liver cancer,” he said.
Dr. Johnson disclosed that viral hepatitis remains a significant global health challenge, with an estimated 3.4 to 4 per cent of the world’s 8.1 billion population living with viral hepatitis. He warned that untreated chronic viral hepatitis silently damages the liver over time and can progress to life-threatening conditions such as liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
He explained that one of the greatest dangers of viral hepatitis is that it often presents without symptoms, allowing infected individuals to unknowingly spread the virus or develop severe complications before diagnosis.
“You can walk around carrying the virus without any symptoms. That is why screening is extremely important. Without testing, people cannot know their status, and early intervention becomes impossible,” he stated.
He further stressed that although Hepatitis B is as common as HIV, public attention has largely focused on HIV screening while viral hepatitis continues to receive inadequate attention.
“Our message through OncoBridge Foundation is to ensure that people understand that Hepatitis B is just as serious as HIV. As we intensify HIV prevention efforts, we must equally strengthen the fight against viral hepatitis through awareness, screening, vaccination, and early treatment. Untreated chronic viral hepatitis remains one of the major causes of liver cancer, but with early diagnosis, appropriate care, and vaccination, it is preventable,” he added.
Dr. Johnson noted that OncoBridge Foundation remains steadfast in its mission of taking cancer prevention and health education directly to underserved communities, where access to information and healthcare services is often limited.
Also speaking, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Dr. Ekomobong Udoh, applauded OncoBridge Foundation for spearheading the initiative in partnership with other organizations to commemorate World Hepatitis Day.
He described viral hepatitis as a serious health condition capable of causing devastating complications, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly among people with chronic infections.
Dr. Udoh said the campaign was aimed at educating market women and residents around West Itam on the importance of early detection, vaccination, and prevention.
“The goal is to ensure that people understand hepatitis, know the risk factors, get tested, receive appropriate treatment where necessary, and take advantage of available vaccines to prevent chronic infection,” he said.
He emphasized that prevention remains the most effective strategy in combating viral hepatitis and advised members of the public to avoid sharing needles, practice safe sexual behaviour, maintain good personal hygiene, and consume safe food and water to reduce transmission.
Commending Dr. Maurice Johnson for his leadership, Dr. Udoh described him as a passionate public health advocate whose work continues to make significant contributions to cancer prevention and public health awareness.
“I commend Dr. Maurice Johnson for bringing this initiative together. I have no doubt that he will continue to champion awareness on diseases that predispose people to cancer and improve public health education across Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria,” he said.
In his contributions, Co-founder, of OncoBridge Foundation, Dr. Joseph Etuk, added that the outreach utilized a triple Elimination approach; Screening For Hepatitis B Virus, HIV Screening And Syphilis Screening inline with the WHO recommendations. He advised people to go for screening to prevent the transmission of the disease. He informed that the theme calls for urgent action to dismantle the financial, social and systemic barriers, including stigma, that stand in the way of hepatitis elimination and liver cancer prevention.
Also lending her voice, Mrs. Itoro Celestine Umoh, Principal Nursing Officer at the Primary Health Centre, West Itam, expressed appreciation to OncoBridge Foundation for partnering with the health facility to expand public awareness on viral hepatitis.
She noted that the collaboration would help identify infected individuals early and ensure prompt referral to appropriate healthcare facilities for specialist care.
“Together, we are creating awareness about hepatitis, encouraging prevention, and ensuring that those who may already have the disease are identified early and referred to teaching hospitals for proper management. We have qualified healthcare professionals who are committed to improving patient outcomes and strengthening cancer care within our communities,” she said.
Participants, including Itam market women, medical students from the University of Uyo, healthcare professionals, and community residents, lauded OncoBridge Foundation for its consistent commitment to grassroots health outreach and disease prevention.
The event further explained the critical role of community-based interventions in reducing the burden of viral hepatitis and reinforced OncoBridge Foundation’s growing reputation as a leading non-governmental organization driving cancer prevention, early detection, and public health advocacy across Nigeria.
World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on July 28 to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and liver cancer.
