Abakaliki, Nigeria – The Ebonyi Government, in collaboration with Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally-Displaced Persons (BERWO), on Monday inaugurated a state-wide sensitisation and screening campaign to eradicate Viral Hepatitis and Tuberculosis (TB).
Giving this indication, the wife of the Governor and founder of BERWO, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, said that the health conditions of the people have continued to pose threats due to lack of awareness.
Nwifuru made the remarks during the grand finale of the 2024 women August meeting in Izzi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
She urged chairpersons of the 13 LGAs of the state to join in the fight against the health conditions and play their parts by participating in the screening exercise.
“As the Stop TB Champion of the state, I am urging all to participate in spreading the word about Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B.
“The screening and awareness campaign will not only provide our people with the knowledge needed to protect themselves, but also ensure that those affected receive the care and support they deserve,” Nwifuru said.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Primary Health, Mr Sabinus Nwibo, revealed that Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and C are endemic in the state.
Nwibo added that these particular health conditions were constantly present within Ikwo and Izzi communities in the state.
He explained that the health conditions are an infectious diseases, causing health burden due to complications associated with infection, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
He said hepatitis B and C are dangerous types of virus diseases, among others.
He said that the health conditions, transformed to hepatocellular carcinoma, causes rivercirosis and other damage .
He said “Gov Francis Nwifuru has approved and funded instruments needed for the sensitisation campaign and screening exercises of the health condition to the 13 LGAs of the state.
“Today, we flag off the exercise and it will continue simultaneously in all the nooks and crannies of the state.
“Those who tested positive, during the exercise will be taken care of and the negative will be given hepatitis B vaccine for prevention,” Nwibo said.
He further called on the public to take advantage of the opportunity and avail themselves for the screening.
He disclosed that the state government planned to establish hepatitis research centres where patients who test positive would be taken care of.
Mr Moses Ekuma, the state Commissioner for Health, also disclosed that the global fund partner donated 26 motor cycles to 13 Tuberculosis (TB) coordinators and 13 deputy coordinators.
Ekuma said that the motor cycles would enable them distribute TB drugs, and sensitise people on the need to report possible symptoms.
The medical expert described Gov. Nwifuru as a health-friendly governor and added that his Wife, Mary-Maudline, was appointed as “Stop TB Champion” of Ebonyi.
He called on the media to assist in the dissemination of information on the screening exercise against TB to the public.
Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, the state Commissioner for Aviation, expressed satisfaction over the turnout of women for the programmes.
Obichukwu, while encouraging women to always reflect on the 2024 theme of the women convention, advised them to avail themselves for the exercise to build a healthy society.
The Council Chairman, Mr Steven Nwakpa and Wife, Deborah, in their separate remarks, described women as a source of life and urged the people to cooperate by getting themselves tested.
The event featured distribution of motor cycles and bags of rice, among other items, to indigents persons in the area.
