Let's Break the Barriers to Zero Hepatitis Infection

A Silent Visitor

It started with fatigue.

Not the regular kind you get from staying up late or working too hard — this was different. Bisi, a 35-year-old mother of two, noticed she couldn’t keep up with her normal daily routine. Cooking became a chore. Her skin and eyes started turning yellow, and her urine looked like Coca-Cola. At first, she thought it was malaria. Then typhoid. Then village people. She self-medicated with drugs and herbs, but nothing seemed to work. So she decided to visit the hospital. After a few tests, the doctor quietly said, “You have hepatitis B.”

She had heard about it before, not much, but now it had changed her life.

Each year, more than a million people lose their lives to hepatitis – and the number of deaths is rising. But why?We have fast and accurate tests, effective and affordable treatments, and a proven vaccine that could prevent 95% of newborns from getting hepatitis B.

Low awareness, misinformation, myths and stigma are stopping people from accessing hepatitis services and leading to a lack of action by decision-makers.

What Is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by several things — but the most common cause around the world is a viral infection.

Inflammation is the body's response to an irritant.

Despite being preventable, treatable, and in the case of hepatitis C, curable, chronic hepatitis B and C continue to cause liver damage and cancer, affecting millions across

There are five main types of viral hepatitis: A, B, C, D, and E.

Hepatitis A and E are usually spread through contaminated food or water. They often cause short-term illness and usually don’t lead to long-term liver damage.

Hepatitis B, C, and D are spread through blood, sexual contact, and from mother to child during birth. These can become chronic and silently damage the liver for years.

Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis

Hepatitis symptoms can vary by type and by age — and some people (especially children) may show no symptoms at all.

In Children

• Mild fever

• Poor appetite

• Tiredness or irritability

• Vomiting

• Sometimes no symptoms at all (especially with hepatitis B and C)

In Teenagers & Adults

• Fatigue Loss of appetite

• Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)

• Dark urine

• Pale stool

• Nausea or vomiting

• Abdominal pain (especially upper right side)

• Joint pain (especially in hepatitis B)

In the Elderly

• Fatigue or confusion may be more prominent.

• May already have complications like liver cirrhosis.

• Often diagnosed late due to subtle or mistaken symptoms

Which Hepatitis Types Have Vaccines?

• Hepatitis A: 2 doses 6 months apart      

• Hepatitis B : 3 doses At birth, 1 month, and 6 months

• Hepatitis E vaccine is not globally available.   

Why It Matters

The liver is like your body's central processing unit — cleaning your blood, storing energy, and helping with digestion. When it’s inflamed, everything slows down. If hepatitis goes unnoticed and untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.

The scariest part? You can have hepatitis for years with no symptoms—until it’s too late.

What Can You Do?

We are at a crucial stage in the global drive to end viral hepatitis by 2030.

We have the tools to achieve this now – there is a cure for hepatitis C and a vaccine and effective treatments for hepatitis B. However, treatment alone is not enough.

1. Get tested– especially if you’ve ever had surgery, blood transfusion, multiple sexual partners, or were born in an area where Hepatitis B is common.

2. Get vaccinated: especially against Hepatitis B. It’s safe, effective, and often free.

3. Avoid sharing sharp objects: razors, needles, clippers.

4. Practice safe sex: use condoms and know your partner's status.

5. Watch where you eat: clean water and food prevent Hepatitis A and E.

   
   
   
   

To prevent, diagnose, and manage hepatitis health professionals need access to:

Diagnosis

• Rapid diagnostic test kits (HBsAg, HCV Ab)

• ELISA and PCR machines

• Liver function test panels

• Ultrasound scanners

• FibroScan (for liver stiffness)

 Prevention

• Hepatitis B vaccines Cold chain storage systems

• Disposable syringes and auto-disable syringes

• Infection control equipment (PPE, disinfectants)

• Health education materials

 Treatment & Care

• Antiviral drugs

• Monitoring tools for viral load and liver function

• Patient counselling kits

• Community health education materials

• Referral protocols for liver transplant when necessary

Hepatitis is a silent but deadly disease that continues to steal lives — especially in places where awareness is low and diagnosis comes too late.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

With education, vaccination, and early testing, we can turn the tide.

Bisi didn’t know about hepatitis. But you do. And now, you can help protect yourself, your family, and your community.

Don’t wait for the yellow eyes. Ask questions. Get tested. Get vaccinated.The liver is life — protect it.

If you need more information, you can visit any health centre close to you or contact Eustar and Gold.

We remain your trusted partner for all equipment needed from prevention to monitoring. Book a session today. Together we can break the barriers.