The Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) says it’s partnering with the Nasarawa State government to tackle the hepatitis prevalence rate in the state.

The university and the state government, with support from partners, offered free hepatitis testing, counselling, vaccination, and treatment to hepatitis-positive patients in the Gandu community near the university on Monday.

Speaking at the event in Lafia, Shehu Abdul-Rahman, the university’s vice-chancellor (VC), expressed delight in their ability to offer free hepatitis services to their host community.

He said that the gesture was part of the university’s community service to tackle health challenges prevalent in the state.

“The intervention is timely because the fundamental public health indication for the country is critically low and precarious, with the national life expectancy now at 56.05 years,” he said.

Mr Abdul-Rahman said the university decided to partner with the state Ministry of Health on hepatitis as one of the prominent causes of human mortality in the country.

The vice chancellor thanked the Ministry of Health and other partners for making the day a reality for the benefit of the host community and the students.

Also speaking, Victor Dugga, chairman of the university’s Centre for Community Service, appreciated the VC, the state government, partners, and community leaders for the programme’s success.

He said the medical exercise was cost-free and appealed that the equipment used be left at the university’s medical centre for the staff and students after the programme.

Gaza Gwamna, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, said the partnership was to tackle the worrisome hepatitis prevalence rate in the state.

The commissioner, represented by John Damina, permanent secretary in the ministry, said the government was currently carrying out free hepatitis services across the 13 local government areas of the state.

Mr Damina said the Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration would continue proactively tackling health challenges confronting the public.

He added that providing affordable, accessible, and qualitative healthcare services was one of the priorities of the present state government.

The event commemorated the 2024 World Hepatitis Day, originally marked on July 28 every year.

(NAN)