EBONYI STATE GOVT OFFERS FREE HEPATITIS B SCREENING

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Ebonyi State Government has embarked on free Hepatitis B screening to curb the spread of the viral disease, which has become endemic in two Local government Areas of Ikwo and Izzi.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Sabinus Nwibo, announced this at the launch of Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis Prevention Awareness programme at Iboko, the Council Headquarters of Izzi Local Government Area.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth.

It is also transmitted through contact with blood or other body fluid during sexual intercourse with an infected partner.

According to the World Health Organisation, about 254 million people were living with chronic Hepatitis B infection as at 2022 while there are more than 1.5 million new cases per year in Nigeria.

The Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Nwibo said Ebonyi State was not an exception as a recent research conducted by Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA) showed that the virus was endemic in two local government areas.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, said apart from Hepatitis B, the State government was also strategizing to strengthen its response to Tuberculosis infections.

He appealed to the state Governor to approve the purchase of GeneXpert Machine to enhance diagnosis and treatment.

The Wife of the state governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, said she would leverage on the structures put in place through her Pet Project, BERWO, to ensure sensitization of women in the state to the diseases (Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B).

The highlight of the event was the presentation of 13 motorcycles to Local Government TB Supervisors and Deputies for detection, treatment and prevention of the disease.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU