The Nasarawa State Government in collaboration with the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, have commenced the testing and treating of residents infected with the viral Hepatitis B and C virus across the 13 local government areas of the state.
The acting governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, disclosed this on Friday in Doma LGA, at the flag-off of the Viral Hepatitis Free Village Campaign tagged “Putting Nasarawa State on the Track of Viral Hepatitis Elimination By 2030.”
He further explained that the partnership with the hospital was also to commence a medical outreach to provide comprehensive healthcare services in rural communities across the state.
Akabe noted that the state government decided to begin the health programs in Doma because the LGA had over the years recorded high cases of viral hepatitis which had claimed so many lives.
While commending the doctors from the Federal Medical Centre in the Keffi LGA of the state for partnering with the state to fight common diseases affecting the people, the acting governor reiterated the state government’s commitment to eliminate hepatitis from the state by 2030.
He, therefore, appealed to all the residents to make themselves available for the testing of hepatitis in government healthcare facilities across the 13 LGAs of the state, and avoid the use of unsterilized sharp objects, sharing of needles/syringes, and the transfusion of unscreened blood/blood products.
“Hepatitis has been killing our people slowly and steadily. The prevalence of hepatitis in Doma LGA is high, which is why we decided to flag off this program here today. I, therefore, urge all the residents to give the needed support to the medical teams as they move across the state for the medical outreach program”, Akabe added.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Dr Yahaya Adamu, who was represented by Dr. Ahmed Kana, pledged the commitment of the hospital to the improved well-being of all residents of the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, lauded the efforts of the federal government and other partners who had been supporting the state in tackling the virus and other deadly diseases in recent times.
He further narrated that the target of the medical outreach was 6,000 persons in each of the 13 LGAs, adding that the doctors and other medical teams have been fully equipped to carry out the program without any hitches.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Andoma of Doma, HRH Aliyu Ogah expressed his gratitude to the state government and the doctors from the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, for the gesture to the residents in his domain.
The Royal Father, therefore, expressed the optimism that the medical outreach would go a long way towards improving their health and general well-being.
Our correspondent reports that the event which had top government functionaries and other dignitaries in attendance, featured the presentation of a Volkswagen Sharon Bus to the team of medical doctors by the Nasarawa State government.
In March 2023, the Nasarawa State Government set aside the sum of N100m to tackle the spread of the deadly Hepatitis Virus across the 13 local government areas of the state.
The governor of the state, Abdullahi Sule, made this disclosure during the launching of the ‘Hepatitis C Virus Self-Testing Implementation’ programme organised by Jhpiego Nigeria, in Lafia.