The Sangarin Shabu, Mahmood Bwallah and indigenes of Nasarawa state have commended African Union (AU) and African Liver Patient Association (ALPA) for the free hepatitis care and treatment ongoing in Shabu community, Lafia.
The African Union, Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC), African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (AU-ASRIC) have partnered with African Liver Patient Association (ALPA) to offer free hepatitis treatment to Nasarawa state indigenes.
NAN reports that AU-STRC and AU-ASRIC are specialised institutions of the African Union (AU) commission.
The royal father gave his support and blessings while receiving the team of AUSTRC officials and experts from Egyptian Liver Research Institute and Hospital (ELRIAH) in his palace on Thursday in Shabu, Lafia.
In his address, the monarch poured encomiums on the team for the timely hepatitis intervention geared towards bringing development to the community.
“ I want to commend the AU and ALPA for bringing such a laudable project to my community, this is a great initiative.
“Thank you for prioritizing the health of my people, I also appreciate the efforts and support of the state government for this community.
“You have my support and that of my people; we will cooperate with you to achieve your aim,’’ he said.
The beneficiaries, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, stated that an hepatitis intervention of such magnitude was the first of its kind in Nasarawa state.
A resident of Shabu and a beneficiary of the hepatitis free testing and treatment, Audu Muhammad, thanked the partners, AU and ALPA for the free hepatitis treatment and sensitization.
“ For the past interventions I have witnessed, it is usually not more than a day but this is the very first time we as a community and state are benefitting from a 10 day intervention.
“ From day 1 till now, everything is free, we are very grateful for this kind of intervention because we could never have been able to afford the cost of hepatitis treatment,’’ he said.
Another beneficiary, Rukayya Audu, stated that she has lived in Nasarawa for a whole 48 years and never has she witnessed nor benefitted from such a huge project.
Audu who travelled from Akwanga to Shabu for the test noted that as an indigene of Nasarawa state, this was first of its kind in the community.
“ I heard from a friend that there is a free hepatitis test and treatment so I travelled down and decided to partake of it.
“ The past hepatitis interventions are usually for just a day but this is lasting for 10 whole days with everything free, this is huge.
“ I am extremely grateful, May God bless everyone who made this possible,’’ she said
Amos Bage, a banker in Lafia town said he can never afford hepatitis treatments, if it was not brought for the indigenes totally free.
Bage said he saw the information on his family whatsApp group and was grateful for the free hepatitis intervention.
A couple, Mr and Mrs Ado Musa, who came from Nasarawa Toto, both said they heard the information about the free testing and treatment on radio.
“ I and my wife heard about the hepatitis outreach on radio one of the days while I was driving to work,’’ Mr Musa said.
“ I thought it was a scam until a friend confirmed it to me. I have benefitted from the free test and free drugs.
“ I have called some of my friends suffering from hepatitis and some family members from keffi, jos and even my in-laws from Kaduna to come and benefit,’’ they said.
