No fewer than 78, 000 indigent persons would benefit from hepatitis testing, vaccination and treatments in Nasarawa State.
Dr Emmanuel Akabe, Deputy Gov. of the state made the disclosure at the inauguration exercise of a medical outreach to tackle hepatitis menace on Friday in Doma Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The medical outreach was organised by the Nasarawa State Government in collaboration with Doctors from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Keffi.
Akabe said that the gesture was targeted at people from rural areas in determination of desire of Gov. Abdullahi Sule-led administration to provide affordable healthcare services to the public.
He explained that they have decided to begin the exercise in Doma LGA because of the high prevalence rate in the area in recent time.
“Records had shown that the prevalence rate of hepatitis in the state and particularly Doma LGA was above the national prevalence rate.
“The national prevalence rate is two out of every 100 persons, but the rate is 11 out of 100 in the state and 15 out of 100 in Doma LGA.
“The burden in our state is very high and worrisome, hence the governor directed that it should be tackle headlong using every government’s machinery.
“Already, as a state we have a robust programme on the elimination of hepatitis before 2030 in line with the target of World Health Organisation (WHO),” Akabe added.
The deputy governor also disclosed that the state government had entered into agreement with FMC Keffi to deploy its medical experts and equipments for outreach services in three LGAs.
“We have been pursuing this agreement for the past 15 years and thank God it has come to reality today.
“As from today, General Hospital Doma and of course other facilities in the selected LGAs are appendage of FMC.
“You can now access all medical services you could get at FMC Keffi now in Doma, because experts will be deployed on rotational basis to work here and the other two facilities.
On his part, Dr Gaza Gwamna, Commissioner for Health explained that the outreach would be replicated in the remaining 12 LGAs of the state.
The commissioner said that based on the facilities available, the medical term would be targeting 6, 000 persons in all the 13 LGAs, totally 78, 000.
He further explained that the team would test everybody that avail himself of herself and administer vaccination if found negative and offer treatment if found positive.
In his goodwill message, Amadu Aliyu-Ogah, Andoma of Doma and Chairman Traditional Council of the area expressed gratitude to the government for bringing succor to his people.
The traditional ruler called on his people to avail themselves for the exercise as, according to him, ‘it was safe and aimed at improving thier health’.
Earlier, Dr Yahaya Baba-Adamu, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FMC Keffi expressed gratitude to the state for the partnership aimed at addressing the menace of hepatitis.
The CMD represented by Dr Ahmed Kana, Head of Clinical Services at the hospital, assured that consultants and other medical personnel would be deploy for the outreaches to ensure its success. (NAN)