By Daniel Tyokua
The Executive Secretary FCT Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Yahaya Vatsa said the administration was working towards ending Hepatitis by 2030.
He gave the assurance while flagging-off activities to mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day in Abuja, last week.
Vatsa said the administration is ready and prepare to align with World Health Organization and other critical stakeholders to achieve hepatitis B, C, and D elimination by 2030.
The Secretary decried a situation where communities in the FCT particularly those in the hard-to-reach areas, lack access to hepatitis diagnostics, treatment and preventive interventions.
“Unfortunately, individuals who have incidental screening at blood donation centers or when having laboratory evaluations for other health conditions, even when they realise often lack the knowledge of what to do to manage the situation and most of them are left in the hands of quacks or pay huge sums at some random health facilities to have even suboptimal care.
“As you may be aware, the Public Health Department, Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA with partners, had in the past, evaluated health workers in District Hospitals and other Departments, and Agencies. The findings were appalling as much over 50% of personnel were positive and many others needed hepatitis B vaccinations.
“This goes to show that there is uncoordinated Hepatitis B screening taking place in various communities of the FCT with clients not adequately counselled and managed hence most of them resort to self-help.”
