The wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, has been decorated as Global Hepatitis Zero Ambassador by the World Hepatitis Eradication Commission, Nigeria.
The commission’s President, Dr Mike Omotosho, said Abiodun’s wife was inducted due to her commitment to the well-being of mankind in all facets.
Omotosho, who spoke on Tuesday in Abeokuta, explained that he was moved by Mrs Abiodun’s track record of showing passion for people’s welfare.
He noted that the commission’s sole responsibility was to bring an end to hepatitis through advocacy, screening, prophylaxis and treatment.
Earlier, the South-West Coordinator for Hepatitis Zero Eradication Project, Florence Egbeyemi, disclosed that between 11 and 14 per cent of the world population lived with hepatitis.
Egbeyemi noted that about 27 million people in Nigeria were infected, while about five million people died annually of the disease.
Abiodun, in her remarks, expressed concern about the high prevalence of hepatitis around the world and the high percentage of deaths recorded in the country.
She pledged her support to create the needed awareness and in screening and treating people living with the disease.
The Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Health, Dr Adesanya Ayinde, said, “The government will channel resources towards eradication of the viral hepatitis disease to ensure adequate well-being of residents of the state.”
Font: Punch