A corps member serving with Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa memorial hospital, Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Dr Ativie Dominic has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency, establish a national agency for Hepatitis to arrest the disease. He made the appeal after a research he conducted in Kafanchan discovered that about 45% of…
A corps member serving with Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa memorial hospital, Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Dr Ativie Dominic has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency, establish a national agency for Hepatitis to arrest the disease.
He made the appeal after a research he conducted in Kafanchan discovered that about 45% of the people of Southern Kaduna are suffering from Hepatitis, especially Hepatitis C.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of his free medical outreach to six communities in Jema’a local government area, he said there are strong indications that other local government areas of the state may be suffering from the same disease, hence a need for the federal government’s attention to arrest the situation.
He explained that in the six communities where the medical outreach was carried out namely: Angwan Masara in Fantsuam Chiefdom, Dangoma Fulani community, Paki 1 area of Kagoma, Angwan Fari kanikon, Aduwan community and Emir’s Palace, a total of 4337 people were screened and treated of various illnesses, stressing that they all received medications for their I’ll health.
He noted that those with serious illnesses that required surgery were advised to visit the hospital for surgery.
Dr. Ativie observed that the number of people suffering from Hepatitis in southern Kaduna was overwhelming and pathetic, attributing it to social ills like sexual intercourse, risky behaviors such as alcoholism and non adherence to basic hygiene like hand washing.
He added that something fast needs to be done to address this ugly situation before it gets out of hand.
He further explained that during the medical outreach, over 2000 persons were discovered to have been infected with Malaria.
The doctor advised the Kaduna State government to ensure quarterly fumigation of high risk areas of the state with insecticides as this could save the state an outbreak of malaria, which accounts for a significant percentage of infant mortality.
The UNICEF focal person in the state’s department of public affairs and information, Malam Dauda Idris Doka commended Dominic for his resilience and commitment towards an outreach of such mammoth population.
