First Lady, Ebonyi State
Residents of Ebonyi State have been enjoined to converge en-masse for hepatitis and Tuberculosis screening and awareness campaign, aimed at eliminating and controlling the spread of the scourge in the State and Country at large.
Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudline Ogbonna Nwifuru, Wife of the Governor of the State stated that her foundation, Better Health for Rural Women Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO) partnered with the State Government, in conducting the exercise for residents across the 13 Local Government Areas of the State.
The wife of the Governor made the call, Monday while flagging off the awareness and sensitization exercise, during the grand finale of the 2024 August meeting held at Izzi Local Government Area headquarters, Iboko.
She further charged wives of Local Government Chairmen, to sensitize and monitor the exercise in their Council Areas in a bid to save lives, stressing that the health conditions of the people have continued to pose threats due to lack of awareness.
The STOP TB champion of Ebonyi State, bemoaned that Hepatitis B – a disease that affects the liver, can lead to serious health complications if not detected and treated early, and Tuberculosis, an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs, remains a significant public health concern.
The wife of the governor stated that both of these diseases are preventable and treatable, yet they continue to pose a threat due to a lack of awareness and access to medical services.
According to her, “This screening and awareness campaign will not only provide our people with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and their loved ones but also ensure that those affected receive the care and support they deserve.”
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, in his remark lamented the rising scourge of hepatitis and tuberculosis among many Nigerians, and underscored the importance of the free screening programme in the State.
Ekuma disclosed that the global fund partner donated 26 motorcycles to 13 Tuberculosis (TB) coordinators and 13 deputy coordinators. He said that the motorcycles would enable them to distribute TB drugs, and sensitize people on the need to report possible symptoms.
The medical expert described Gov. Nwifuru as a health-friendly Governor and added that his Wife, Mary-Maudline, was appointed as the “Stop TB Champion” of Ebonyi. He called on the media to assist in the dissemination of information on the screening exercise against TB to the public.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health, Mr. Sabinus Nwibo, revealed that Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and C are endemic in the State. Nwibo added that these particular health conditions were constantly present within Ikwo and Izzi communities in the State. He explained that the health conditions are infectious diseases, causing health burdens due to complications associated with infection, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. He said hepatitis B and C are dangerous types of virus diseases, among others. He said that the health conditions, transformed into hepatocellular carcinoma, causing rivercirosis and other damages.
He said “Gov Francis Nwifuru has approved and funded instruments needed for the sensitization campaign and screening exercises of the health condition to the 13 LGAs of the state.
“Today, we flag off the exercise and it will continue simultaneously in all the nooks and crannies of the State. Those who tested positive, during the exercise will be taken care of and the negative will be given hepatitis B vaccine for prevention,” Nwibo said.
High points of the events were lectures on the dangers of hepatitis by Dr. Lillian Nwobashi and Dr. Nwibo Sabinus who spoke on Tuberculosis, distribution of motorcycles, relief materials, and empowerment as well as flag-off of the screening.
© Nnenna Oshibe
