Hepatitis B is a global public health threat and the world’s most common serious liver infection. It is up to 100 times more infectious than the HIV/AIDS virus. It also is the primary cause of liver cancer (also known as hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC), which is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the world.
Hepatitis B can range from a mild, short-term, acute illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, long-term, chronic infection.
Happiness Ifogbe, a 27-year-old from Abia State Nigeria, aspiring hair stylist was caught up in this web of Hepatitis B with a learning disability, she shares her experiences while recalling the discrimination and inadequate education she encountered daily as a result of her condition.
Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by HBV. HBV is transmitted when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is uninfected. While Happiness couldn’t explain the source of the ailment, it is certain that, it would have come from one of the sources above.
She highlighted her passion for sports, especially football, but Hepatitis B obstructed the aspiration. She added that society treats her and others of her likes with so much apathy. The majority of people warn her to keep her face alone and restrain their children from hanging around with her. As a result, she has far fewer friends who come over to play with her, even it is harder as she thinks about relationships, she reflected.
A vaccine can prevent hepatitis B, but there’s no cure, if you have the condition. If you’re infected, taking certain precautions can help prevent spreading the virus to others.
Happiness decided to move on, as there’s no cure, she said: “My attempt to learn at my aunt’s shop has helped me contribute to the world of entrepreneurship, but it hasn’t been easy at all because most of the styles are intricate. The majority of my clients express resentment toward me and don’t want me to touch their hair.”
An estimated 820,000 people die each year from hepatitis B and related conditions. Approximately two people die each minute from hepatitis B, for Happiness being alive worth celebrating, so, she moves on with life having the understanding that ‘the impact of what happens to man in life is 10% but what becomes of man is 90% of man’s response to life.
“I have experience working in a restaurant as a server and running errands. I attempted to get engaged in selling hair accessories at my aunt’s shop. In my local assembly, I strengthen the promotion of religious programmes.”
Sometimes, her condition causes her to feel depressed and frustrated, especially whenever she sees other school-age children. She also has trouble remembering things and has trouble understanding details.
In her words: “I wish I knew more, but I can’t get a good education because of my learning disability.” Most teachers don’t understand me, and as a result, they don’t use learning objectives and tactics that could aid my education. Despite how difficult it was, I managed to finish my nursery education. Though not very much, I was able to communicate and engage with others. The problem was that my type of education required funding, which my parents do not have. We don’t even have enough food, and everyone who cares for me has paid a large amount of money.”
The hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body for at least 7 days. During this time, the virus can still cause infection if it enters the body of a person who is not protected by the vaccine. The incubation period of the hepatitis B virus ranges from 30 to 180 days. The virus may be detected within 30 to 60 days after infection and can persist and develop into chronic hepatitis B, especially when transmitted in infancy or childhood.
As birds of a feather flock together, she tries to create her own coping mechanisms and support networks to get through challenging circumstances by connecting with people who have experienced similar things, fostering relationships and communication, engaging in physical activity, exercise, and receiving emotional support and encouragement from loved ones.
On what source of support she has, Happiness said: “The sole sources of support have been parents, guidance and counsellors; neither the government nor any non-governmental organizations have provided any. Whether they exist and give a damn about people like us, I don’t know.”
She pointed out that her regrets are rooted in her struggles with low self-esteem and self-acceptance, feeling that her disability is holding her back, regretting opportunities lost because she lacked confidence, believing that she didn’t reach her full potential, wishing that others would be more understanding and empathic, and battling mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
On how her peer groups reckoned with her she said “they called me a slow and liberate” learner, which damaged her self-esteem, Some even thought her parents were wasting money on her schooling. For these reasons, WHO organizes annual World Hepatitis Day campaigns to increase awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis. For World Hepatitis Day 2023, WHO focused on the theme “One life, one liver” to illustrate the importance of the liver for a healthy life and the need to scale up viral hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment to prevent liver diseases and achieve the 2030 hepatitis elimination target, which lies more on the government of Nigeria in creating awareness and caring for the affected citizens.
For Happiness, she’s resolved to get over all of these difficulties, she was able to find her voice and her love of business, which is why “I constantly work with my aunt at shop to help with her hair salon. My confidence and sense of hope were boosted by this achievement”
“I, therefore, surround myself with supportive friends, family, and mentors who eventually provide me with visual learning resources to help my learning”
My impairment is a strength rather than a limitation. So, my advice to anyone who has a disability is to pursue their passion and make an effort to overcome any obstacles that may arise. Never give up pursuing your goals!” She concludes.
This article was written by Oluwaferanmi Saheed, MSc Student of Mass Communication (2023/2024), University of Lagos, following the training on Disability Reporting facilitated by Blessing Oladunjoye, Publisher of BONews Service.