World Hepatitis Day
By Esther Enna
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia, Professor Shehu Abdulrahman has called for proactive and preventive action to mitigate the global scourge of Hepatitis in the country.
Professor Abdulrahman made the call on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day in Gandu area of Lafia local government council of Nasarawa State organised by Federal University in Collaboration with Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation,Beacon Youths Initiative among others.
World Hepatitis Day is celebrated every twenty eight of July annually to create awareness to the public and encourage actions by individuals and partners for greater response on screening and treatment of the disease.
Noting that Hapatitis is a disease that respects no borders, gender,age or socio-economic status, Professor Shehu Abdulrahman called for collective responsibility and action to avoid contracting the disease.
The Nasarawa State commissioner for Health, Doctor Gaza Gwamna, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Doctor John Damina, while commending the federal University of Lafia, World Health Organisation, Beacon Youths Initiative and other partners for their efforts towards creating awareness to people of the state on the danger of the disease, appealed to people of the state to go for regular screening to know their status.
On his part the Executive Director of Beacon Youths Initiative, who is the North Central Zonal Coordinator on Hepatitis Network,Mr.Envorh Emmanuel Oklo said about thirteen point two percent of people are living with viral Hepatitis ‘B’ and ‘C’ in Nasarawa State, called on government at all levels to put measures on ground to eliminate Hepatitis across the state.
The village head of Gandu, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu thanked Fulafia and partners for the awareness and sensitization on Hapatitis,said is timely.
Some of the beneficiaries of the screening of Hapatitis, Mr.kasimu Hassan and Mrs Elizabeth Ude commended Federal University of Lafia, Ministry of Health, Beacon Youths Initiative and other partners for the gesture.
Highlight of the event were a walk by Management ,Staff and Students of Fulafia, ministry of Health, Beacon Youths Initiative, World Health Organisation and other partners, sensitization, screening and vaccination on Hepatitis while the theme for this years World Hepatitis Day is, IT’S TIME for ACTION.
