PHARMACISTS VERSUS THE GLOBAL BURDEN OF HEPATITIS.

Pharmacists being the first point of call for health care delivery services in society can

partake actively in the prevention and treatment of various STIs. Hepatitis B is gaining

numbers and prevalence worldwide and in Nigeria today.

Pharmacists in Nigeria have to be actively involved in STI integrating services involving hepatitis B though they are not licensed to administer vaccines.

With the aid of pharmacists, Nigeria's hepatitis burden will reduce drastically by 2030. After

all Pharmacists are in the immediate community and can help to detect affected persons with

ease.

To fully understand the role Pharmacists play, we need to understand what is Hepatitis and

STI integrating services.

What is hepatitis, and how does it spread?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can cause a range of health problems and can be fatal. There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D, and E. While they all cause liver disease, they differ in ways which include; modes of transmission, the severity of the illness, geographical distribution, and prevention methods.

The most common and deadly types of Hepatitis are B and C. Hepatitis B, our main concern

today can be prevented, while Hepatitis C is curable.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). This virus passes

through contact with body fluids such as blood, from one individual to another.

There are various ways HBV spreads, such as:

• Sexual contact: Having unprotected sex with an infected person or persons.

• Share objects like needles with people.

• Mother to child: A pregnant woman that has come in contact with HBV can pass the virus to her child or children during childbirth. Vaccination of a newborn can help prevent the child from being infected.

Facts about Hepatitis B.

• Worldwide, an estimated 325 million people live with hepatitis B and (or) C, and testing and care remain beyond reach for most. (WHO, 2020)

• Hepatitis is the largest cause of liver cancer.

• 90% of the people who have hepatitis don't know they have it.

• Testing and early Diagnosis is Vital.

• Vaccinations are available for some forms of Hepatitis examples are Hepatitis B.

• An estimated 4.4 million people in the United States and nearly 400 million people worldwide have viral hepatitis.

• Drinking alcohol worsens hepatitis.

• In Nigeria, Hepatitis B has a prevalence of 8.1%. Recent facts indicate that at one point in their lives, 75% of Nigerians exposed to this virus. Currently, 18 million Nigerians are infected.

• Hepatitis B receives less attention than HIV, yet it kills faster and is 50-100% more infectious than HIV.

Who Is At Risk Of Hepatitis B?

Anyone; children, young adults, and adults, especially:

• People working as health care personnel that deal with blood.

• People who want to get piercings and tattoos.

• People who make use of IV drugs. Road safety officials and drivers who might encounter any form of an accident that involves blood,

• Individuals working in industries that make use of shared sharp objects such as chefs, carpenters, factory employees, etc

• Individuals with liver or kidney disease,

• And people with multiple sex partners.

What is STI integrating service?

According to The University of Washington, there are currently over 40 sexually transmitted

diseases. Integrating services is simply the management and delivery of health services.

Curative and preventive services are examples of these services, which the client continually

receives according to their individual needs over time, and this usually happens at different

stages of the health care system.

STI integrating services include sexual background, current information, counselling on

infection and re-infection, and when necessary tests, treatment, and syndrome management of any STI with hepatitis B.

For instance:

• Malaria treatment integrated with hepatitis B&C testing and vaccination.

• Community HIV testing/counselling integrated with hepatitis B&C testing and vaccination.

• Family planning services integrated with hepatitis B&C testing, and vaccination.

• Various STI services carried out in the pharmacy with hepatitis B&C testing and vaccination.

• Community ARV services with hepatitis B&C testing and vaccination.

What are the roles your pharmacist play in reducing the hepatitis burden?

A pharmacist especially the community pharmacist is a front-line health officer based in the community who has earned the trust of indigenes residing in our communities, which puts the pharmacist in a position to actively partake in the fight against major public diseases just like hepatitis B.

In reducing the global burden of this disease, pharmacists can play the following roles:

• Pharmacists actively create awareness; educate members of the society on the dangers of hepatitis B, causes and symptoms, and promote the need for testing, vaccination, and treatment.

• Community Pharmacists organize screenings and testing programs especially, for hepatitis B making use of various health integrating services.

• Pharmacists participate in the strategic planning of hepatitis B immunization programs.

• Although pharmacists are not responsible for administering vaccines, they are up to date on the adverse effects of the vaccines.

• Community Pharmacists assess patients, request laboratory reports, prescribe, maintain, and track drug regimens.

• Pharmacists can partner with other health care providers through a collaborative agreement and carry out follow-ups on patients.

Lopez pharmacy believes strongly that global health can be transformed through our communities, because of this, we are offering hepatitis test and vaccination service at our pharmacy.

Join us to rid the world of this virus.

HAPPY WORLD PHARMACIST DAY.