By Sani Adamu Hassan
In a determined effort to combat the rising prevalence of hepatitis in Bauchi State, more than 1,000 residents benefited from a three-day free screening, counseling, and vaccination outreach conducted in Kirfi, Shafa, and Tudu communities.
The medical outreach, organized by Shafa Foundation in collaboration with the Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful Society (CHIPS) and the Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN), recorded a massive turnout and delivered significant public health impact in the targeted areas.
Declaring the exercise open, Dr. Sabo Umar Mustapha, team leader and Head of Internal Medicine at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, said the communities were selected due to a high prevalence of hepatitis in the area.
“We brought this exercise here because of the alarming number of reported hepatitis cases. It’s our duty to intervene before it escalates further,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Director of Primary Health Care in Kirfi LGA, Mallam Hairy Muhammad, expressed appreciation to the medical team for selecting the area for the outreach, describing the initiative as timely and life-saving.
Similarly, the Mai Gunduma of Kirfi, Alhaji Kawuji Abubakar, commended the organizers for their selfless service, offering prayers for the continuity of such humanitarian efforts.
Beneficiaries described the initiative as a “lifesaving opportunity,” praising the professionalism, compassion, and dedication of the medical personnel involved.
Over the three-day period, a total of 1,283 individuals were screened, 1,096 vaccinated, and 125 tested positive for hepatitis. In Kirfi, 399 people were screened, 309 vaccinated, and 44 tested positive. In Shafa, 254 were screened, 245 vaccinated, and 17 tested positive. Tudu recorded the highest numbers, with 634 screened, 542 vaccinated, and 64 testing positive.
In addition to identifying hepatitis cases, the outreach helped provide preventive vaccines, especially in underserved rural communities. Organizers stated that vaccinated individuals are expected to return for the remaining two doses as scheduled.
The organizing bodies reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the initiative to other vulnerable communities and called for sustained partnerships to tackle hepatitis and other public health challenges across Bauchi State.
