Rotary Club of Isolo organises enlightenment campaign on Hepatitis B and C

THE Rotary Club of Isolo, District 9110, Rotary International recently organised a health talk on hepatitis ‘B’, ‘C’ and test along with the club’s quarterly ladies night at Protea Hotel, Maryland.

The President of the Club for 2015-2016 Rotary year, Lolade Temitope Ogungbe, said the club carried out the health campaign on hepatitis B and C within Isolo Community on July 29, 2015 to commemorate hepatitis B and C day as directed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) stipulated for July 28, 2015 to be observed all over the world.

She said the club would encourage people to get tested so that they would be able to know their hepatitis status.

Ogungbe enumerated other projects earmarked for execution during her service year to include providing additional classrooms for some schools within Isolo Community and provision of educational materials.

Others include health campaigns that have to do with maternal health like cervical and breast cancer screening, sinking of boreholes for the people in Isolo community with other projects that would enable the club to make a mark as a club in the community.

She advised Nigerians to know their health status as hepatitis B and C are as dangerous as HIV and should therefore take precautions not to exchange fluid with one another as advised by the Guest Speaker, Dr. Abdulganiyu Tokunbo Ogunleye.

She congratulated the ladies night two winners including Mr. and Mrs. Adegoke Adeoye, who won the best dressed couple of the night and parted with a blender, a picnic mat and a picnic box for cooling drinks. Dr. and Mrs. Wasiu Babalola won a rechargeable fan with remote control as well as a picnic mat and cooling box for being the best couple of the night.

The Guest Speaker, Dr. Ogunleye, in his lecture, described hepatitis B and C as liver diseases caused by the hepatitis B or C virus. It makes the liver to swell and stops it from functioning properly.
He explained further that the diseases could be contacted through another person’s blood, semen or other body fluids.

“It is more infectious and could spread through having sex with an infected person, living with an infected person among others while the symptoms include feeling tired, feeling abdominal discomfort, fever, poor appetite among others.

“There is no vaccine for hepatitis C and so, if you are a health care or public safety worker, get vaccinated for hepatitis B and always follow routine barrier precautions when handling needles and other sharp objects.