AU, Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC), African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (AU-ASRIC), in partnership with African Liver Patients Association (ALPA) has screened more than 3000 persons for hepatitis in Nasarawa state.
Dr. Ibrahim Adamu, Director, Public Health, Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, disclosed this on Saturday at a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler, Sangarin Shabu, Mahmood Bwallah II.
Adamu, who went in the company of AUSTRC officials and experts from Egyptian Liver Research Institute and Hospital (ELRIAH) also announced the successful completion of the intervention.
He told the community leader that more than 3000 persons were successfully screened.
He said those found to be negative have also been treated and pleaded for continued support of the partners in ensuring that hepatitis is eradicated from Nigeria.
“We thought the prevalence of the burden of hepatitis is 10 percent but after the screening of over 3000 persons, the results are evident.
“The results show that hepatitis b is over 30 percent, while hepatitis c is about 11 percent.
“We would continue from where the partners have stopped and ensure we take the free treatment to other places in Nasarawa,” he said.
The director also added that persons tested to be negative have started receiving free vaccination.
The traditional ruler expressed gratitude to the Ministry of health and the partners, AU and ALPA for organizing the free hepatitis care and treatment.
He urged the AU and ALPA to continue in their bid to see a world free of Hepatitis and urged other agencies to emulate them.
The highlight of the visit was the conferment of traditional titles on the leaders of AUSTRC and ALPA team by the revered community leader in appreciation of their support.
Sangarin Shabu also recognized and awarded all the team members for their collective support in carrying out the hepatitis outreach.
Prof. Ahmed Farahat, the Hepatitis Project Coordinator from ELRIAH, on behalf of his team, expressed gratitude to the people of Shabu.
He said his team was encouraged by the people of Shabu for prioritizing their health and taking advantage of the opportunity for testing and treatment, given the dangerous nature of untreated hepatitis.
Dr Ahmed Hamdy, the Executive Director of AUSTRC and ASRIC stated that based on the success achieved in shabu, the project would continue.
Hamdy, represented by Mr Philbert Bayeka, an official of AUSTRC said an outreach of this nature had been successfully carried out in Egypt and a pilot phase was successfully replicated in Shabu.
“This outreach was carried out in Egypt where it was very successful and we have implanted the pilot phase successfully.
“It is a pilot project in Nigeria and it was very successful, that shows we did something right,” he said.
