A consultant paediatrician at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Dr Ayobami Alabi, has stressed that routine vaccination, antenatal screening, and timely administration of Hepatitis B immunoglobulin remain the most effective strategies for protecting children against Hepatitis B infection and preventing lifelong liver disease.
Speaking on hepatitis, on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State Branch, Dr Alabi explained that preventing Hepatitis B in infancy is crucial because children infected early in life are far more likely to develop chronic infection, which can later progress to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
According to the paediatrician, hepatitis is inflammation of the liver and can result from viruses, drugs, toxins, chemicals, and other harmful substances. However, he noted that viral hepatitis remains the greatest public health concern because of its widespread impact and potentially life-threatening long-term complications.
“World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the disease and promote preventive measures. Prevention is always better than treatment because Hepatitis B can silently progress to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer before symptoms become apparent,” he said.
Dr Alabi explained that while Hepatitis A and E are mainly transmitted through the faeco-oral route due to poor sanitation and contaminated food or water, Hepatitis B and C are more dangerous because they can establish chronic infections that remain in the body for decades.
He identified mother-to-child transmission as one of the greatest concerns in paediatrics, noting that an infected mother can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, labour, delivery, or shortly after birth if appropriate preventive measures are not taken.
“The major concern for paediatricians is mother-to-child transmission. Without intervention, a child infected at birth may carry the virus throughout life,” he explained.
According to him, infants infected at birth or during early childhood have a significantly higher risk of developing chronic Hepatitis B than adults who acquire the infection later in life, often remaining symptom-free for years before developing serious liver disease.
Dr Alabi described routine childhood immunisation as one of the greatest public health achievements in preventing Hepatitis B, noting that the vaccine is included in Nigeria’s National Programme on Immunisation and is provided free of charge in public health facilities.
He explained that babies receive the vaccine as part of the pentavalent vaccine administered at six, 10 and 14 weeks of age.
“The Hepatitis B vaccine is part of our routine immunisation schedule. Every child who comes for routine immunisation receives it free of charge in public hospitals,” he said.
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The consultant added that pregnant women are routinely screened for Hepatitis B during antenatal care and urged expectant mothers to register early to enable prompt detection and appropriate planning.
“When a pregnant woman tests positive during antenatal care, healthcare providers monitor her condition, including her viral load and liver function, while preparing measures to protect the baby immediately after delivery,” he stated.
For babies born to Hepatitis B-positive mothers, Dr Alabi said effective protection requires the administration of both Hepatitis B immunoglobulin and the routine Hepatitis B vaccine within the first 24 hours after birth.
“The combination of Hepatitis B immunoglobulin and the Hepatitis B vaccine within the first 24 hours after birth can prevent up to 99 per cent of mother-to-child transmission,” he emphasised.
Although Hepatitis B immunoglobulin is more expensive than the routine vaccine, he said it is readily available in healthcare facilities and urged families to prepare ahead once a pregnant woman is diagnosed with the infection.
“The value of antenatal care is that mothers have enough time to prepare. Families should not wait until delivery before searching for Hepatitis B immunoglobulin. Proper planning saves lives,” he added.
Beyond preventing maternal transmission, Dr Alabi advised healthcare workers and the public to adhere to safe medical practices, including the proper handling of blood and the use of sterile needles and syringes.
Addressing vaccine hesitancy, he warned against misinformation spread by anti-vaccination groups, stressing that vaccination remains one of the most effective public health interventions.
“Scientific evidence has consistently shown that vaccination is one of the most important ways of preventing infectious diseases. Routine childhood immunisation continues to save millions of lives worldwide,” he said.
He also dismissed fears that mild fever following vaccination should discourage parents from completing their children’s immunisation schedules, noting that such reactions are temporary and far less dangerous than the diseases vaccines prevent.
Dr Alabi urged all expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinics, undergo recommended screening tests, and ensure their babies receive all scheduled vaccines promptly after birth.
“Every pregnant woman should know her Hepatitis B status through antenatal screening, while every child should receive routine Hepatitis B vaccination. For babies born to infected mothers, timely administration of Hepatitis B immunoglobulin alongside the vaccine offers excellent protection and can prevent lifelong infection,” he concluded.
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