World Hepatitis Day: Rotarians take advocacy, testing, vaccination to Angwan Rogo village

By Stanley Onyekwere

To commemorate this year’s World Hepatitis Day, Rotarians from the Rotary Club (RC) of Abuja, in their hundreds reached out to people of Angwan Rogo community, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), with sensitisation, screening and vaccination against the killer disease.

In particular, leaders and members of the RC drawn from Maitama, Jabi-Lakeside, Gwarinpa and Wuse II, respectively, organised the event with the theme: “Achieving The Elimination of Viral Hepatitis Within Evolving Health Systems”, during which no fewer than 250 people were screened and vaccinated against Hepatitis.

Speaking during the exercise, Yusuf Ali, President of Rotary Club of Abuja, Maitama, said it is already established that about 20 million Nigerians are infected by hepatitis, hence the need to sensitise people on preventive measures, screening and vaccination against the deadly disease.

Ali noted that there are different types of hepatitis, but hepatitis B is the most dangerous, as once anyone is infected with it, there is no cure, as the carrier can only be referred to tertiary health institutions, where it can be managed for awhile.

“Rotary International as a non-governmental organisation is going into it for the sake of the people especially the masses. That’s why we are involved, and every year, we mark world hepatitis day, because it is part of the agenda of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and Nigeria is part of the global community, and we need to celebrate the day.

“So we are a non governmental organisation, and we are happy that this community embraced the initiative. They know that they are prone to communicable diseases, that’s why they are excited to be part of the exercise.

“We had started with sensitisation on how they can contract hepatitis and how to prevent it. You may be a carrier of hepatitis virus without you knowing, so I would advise that if you have not done the test, please go for it, as it is more dangerous than HIV/ AIDS, and that calls for caution”, he stressed.

Similarly, President of Rotary Club of Abuja, Wuse II, Justina Princess Oladotun, said it’s a flagg off exercise, as Rotarians are committed to helping out and giving out services above themselves to people, who are less privileged.

On her part, President, Rotary Club of Abuja, Jabi Lakeside,
Adebanke Abiola Idowu, said if they are able to detect anyone with hepatitis B or C, they will given a referral to general hospitals where they can get further treatment.

She said: “And Hepatitis B and C is a silent killer, and quite a number of people particularly children are not aware, that is why we are here to sensitise this community.

“And hopefully members of this community can reach out to, and further sensitise their families and friends who are not in the area”.

Also speaking, Youth leader of Angwan Rogo community, Agbaka Joseph, expressed excitement over the medical outreach, as it was a rare privilege to receive such support.

He said: “In fact, this is what we never expect we happen in this community, but it’s a privilege for we to see this kind of thing in our community. All the people and entire leaders of the community are very grateful to Rotary Club.

“We don’t have any health clinic in this village, so we are appealing to the FCT Administration to give us assistance in resolve challenges especially in the area of healthcare in this community.

“We want government to intervene and help us so that we can a get a good health clinic in this community.

Similarly, a beneficiary, residing at Fafu Estate in the area, Mrs. Ada Juliet Anife, described the exercise as a welcome development, as the hepatitis testing, vaccines and awareness was brought free of charge to peoples doorsteps.

While thanking the Rotary Club for remembering the less privileged, she opined that many of them may be having the disease without even knowing, but because of lack of funds find it difficult to go for testing or treatment outside the community.

The event’s side attractions included Health talk, rotary talk, vaccination and screening for Hepatitis B and C as well as sharing of light refreshment to the beneficiaries mainly women.