The Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) has partnered with the Nasararawa State Government to tackle the prevalence rate of hepatitis in the state.
The university and the state government with support from partners offered free hepatitis testing, counseling, vaccination, and treatment to those found positive in Gandu Community near the institution on Monday.
Speaking at the event in Lafia the Nasararawa State capital, Prof. Shehu Abdul-Rahman, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the institution, said that they were happy to offer the free services to the communities hosting them and their students.
He explained that the gesture was part of the university’s community service to their host community to assist them in tackling the health challenges that currently have a high prevalence rate in the state.
The VC added that the intervention was timely because the fundamental public health indications for the country are critically low and precarious, with the national life expectancy now at 56. 05 years.
Abdul-Rahman further explained that the university had decided to partner with the State Ministry of Health to tackle the disease because it is currently 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, therefore, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health and other partners for making the day a reality for the benefit of their host communities and students.
Also, Prof. Victor Dugga, Chairman of the university’s Centre for Community Service, appreciated the VC, state government, partners, and community leaders for the success of the program.
The chairman said that the medical exercise was cost-free and appealed that the remaining medical equipment should be used at the university’s medical center for staff and students after the one-day programme.
While declaring the event open, Dr Gaza Gwamna, Nasararawa State Commissioner for Health, said the partnership was aimed at tackling hepatitis whose prevalence rate in the state is currently worrisome.
The commissioner represented by Dr John Damina, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, explained that the government had already taken steps and is currently carrying out free hepatitis services across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
“We are happy that an institution of learning like this is collaborating with us to complement our effort toward eliminating the disease in the state by 2030,” he added.
The commissioner said that the Gov. Abdullahi Sule-led administration would continue to be proactive toward tackling health challenges confronting the public.
He added that providing affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare services was one of the topmost priorities of the present government in the state.
He, therefore appealed to members of the public to cooperate with the government in its effort to eliminate hepatitis and other diseases in the state by availing themselves of testing, counseling, vaccination, and treatment if found positive.
On his part, Dr. Ibrahim Alhassan, Director of Public Health in the ministry, said that hepatitis is a disease of the liver and the government was working hard to prevent people from getting it or at least stop it from escalating.
He explained that the exercise was aimed at educating people on ways to prevent being infected, administering vaccination for those without it, and offering treatment for those who tested positive for the disease.
The event was to commemorate the 2024 World Hepatitis Day, which was on Sunday but shifted to Monday.
The theme for the 2024 hepatitis day is ‘It’s time for action’. (NAN).