The Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Authority, (FCTA). Dr. Adeolapo Fasawe, has pledge to remove barriers on hepatitis care, offers free screening test to community.
She was represented by the Director Public Health, FCTA, Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu, made this known during the community outreach at the Chief Palace Garki Village, on Wednesday in Abuja to commemorate World Hepatitis Day, the event was organized by Garki Hospital adding that the outreach will deliver free screening and preventive health services to residents of Garki village and communities.
Dr Falawe said the outreach is providing, Hepatitis B screening; HIV testing; Syphilis testing; Malaria testing; Health education and one-on-one counselling.
The theme of World Hepatitis Day: ‘Let’s Break It Down’, it is aim at removing barriers, obstacles that prevents people, and the whole health system, from the community up to the facility level and up to the policymaking level.
Dr. Falawe highlighted that creating awareness, raising the index of suspicion for healthcare workers, and also informing the communities on the role they need to play in protecting themselves against hepatitis.
She noted the aim of FCTA is to ensure that citizens enroll in healthcare insurance and care for hepatitis is integrated into the primary health care centers in the FCT.
The Mandate Secretary pointed that citizens can go to primary health care centers and get access to hepatitis care, ensure that vaccines are available in the primary health care centers.
She said newborns can get vaccinated for Hepatitis within the first few months.
Dr. Falawe stressed that government is more intentional in creating awareness, and raising alarm that the levels of hepatitis is very high.
Also speaking, A Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist, Dr. Igbiti O. Justice, said community outreach is essential, going to markets and communities most specially those that lack access to healthcare information.
He emphasized that early protection and seriousness of hepatitis as a health issue.
Dr. Justice added that shame and stigma that prevent people from seeking care; outreach aims to reduce these barriers by engaging in plain language and non-clinical settings.
He further states that community based, non-clinical outreach with accessible language and on-site screening is a powerful strategy to raise awareness, promote early detection, and prevent progression of hepatitis.
“Reducing stigma and increasing vaccine uptake, especially hepatitis B are critical components of an effective hepatitis program at the community level,” Dr Justice stressed.
He explained that holistic approach that links screening with education on risk factors and lifestyle changes will help address not only hepatitis but related health issues diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension, substance use.
Dr Justice pointed scale up grassroots efforts, ensure supportive follow-up and care for those who test positive, and integrate vaccination campaigns with ongoing health education.
He said when communicating risk to communities, use clear comparisons as the speaker did with HIV/Ebola but balance with accurate, practical guidance about transmission and prevention.