The Nasarawa State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, has initiated a far-reaching medical outreach program to confront prevalent illnesses impacting residents across all 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
Announcing this vital endeavor during the launch of the “Viral Hepatitis Free Village Campaign” in Doma LGA, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the acting governor, underscored the urgency of the mission, aiming to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.
In addition to addressing hepatitis, the partnership with the hospital seeks to extend comprehensive healthcare services to rural communities throughout the state.
Dr. Akabe highlighted Doma LGA’s distressing hepatitis rates, citing the imperative of starting health interventions in this area, which has suffered significant losses due to the disease.
Applauding the collaboration with doctors from the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, the acting governor reaffirmed the state’s resolve to eradicate hepatitis by 2030, urging residents to undergo hepatitis testing at government healthcare facilities and to adopt preventive measures against the spread of the disease.
Dr. Yahaya Adamu, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, represented by Dr. Ahmed Kana, pledged the hospital’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the well-being of all state residents.
Dr. Gaza Gwamna, the State Commissioner for Health, praised the support of the federal government and other partners in combating deadly diseases, outlining the outreach’s ambitious target of 6,000 individuals per LGA and assuring the readiness of medical teams to execute the program seamlessly.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of beneficiaries, HRH Aliyu Ogah, the Andoma of Doma, lauded the state government and Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, for their benevolence, expressing optimism about the outreach’s positive impact on community health.
The event, attended by top government officials and dignitaries, featured the presentation of a Volkswagen Sharon Bus to the medical team by the Nasarawa State government.
In a related development, in March 2023, the Nasarawa State Government allocated N100 million to combat the spread of hepatitis across all 13 local government areas, as announced by Governor Abdullahi Sule during the launch of the ‘Hepatitis C Virus Self-Testing Implementation’ program in Lafia, organized by Jhpiego Nigeria.
