Federal University of Lafia, FULafia, is partnering the Nasarawa State government to tackle the prevalence of hepatitis.
The university and the state government with support from partners offered free hepatitis testing, counseling, vaccination and treatment to hepatitis positive patients in Gandu Community, near the university, yesterday.
Speaking at the event in Lafia, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Shehu Abdul-Rahman, expressed delight in their ability to offer free hepatitis services to their host community.
He said the gesture was part of the university’s efforts to tackle health challenges prevalent in the state.
“The intervention is timely because the fundamental public health indication for the country is critically low and precarious; with the national life expectancy now at 56.05 years,” he said.
Abdul-Rahman said the university decided to partner the state Ministry of Health on hepatitis, as it is one of the prominent causes of human mortality in the country.
“I am elated that the programme is a flagship of my university’s Centre for Community Service in line with our core responsibilities of teaching, research and community service,” he said.
The vice-chancellor expressed gratitude to the ministry of health and other partners for making the day a reality for the benefit of the host community and students.
Also speaking, Professor Victor Dugga, Chairman of the university’s Centre for Community Service, appreciated the vice chancellor, state government, partners and community leaders for the success of the programme.
He added that the medical exercise was cost-free and appealed that the equipment used be left at the university’s medical center for the staff and students after the programme.
The Commissioner for Health, Gaza Gwamna said the partnership is aimed at tackling the worrisome hepatitis prevalence rate in the state.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr John Damina, said government is currently carrying out free hepatitis services across the 13 local government areas.
“We are happy that an institution of learning like this is complementing our efforts toward eliminating the disease in the state by 2030,” he said.
Damina said the Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration would continue to be proactive towards tackling health challenges confronting the public.
He added that providing affordable, accessible and qualitative health services is one of the priorities of the present government.
He appealed to members of the public to cooperate with government in its efforts to eliminate hepatitis and other diseases by availing themselves of testing, counseling, vaccination and treatment if positive.
Director of Public Health in the ministry, Ibrahim Alhassan described hepatitis as a disease of the liver.
He said government is working hard to prevent people from getting the disease or stop its spread.
Alhassan added that the exercise is aimed at educating people on ways to avoid being infected, administering vaccination on those without it and offering treatment on those who tested positive for the disease.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the event was to commemorate the 2024 World Hepatitis Day, originally marked on July 28 every year.
The theme for the 2024 Hepatitis Day is “It’s Time for Action.” (NAN)
