The Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ADPHCDA) has launched an intensive grassroots awareness campaign to combat the spread of hepatitis across rural communities.
Dr. Suleiman Bashir, Executive Chairman of the agency, disclosed this during a media roundtable in Yola on Monday, as part of activities marking World Hepatitis Day.
He said the campaign aligns with this year’s theme, “Let’s break it down. Let’s take action”, stressing that hepatitis remains a silent but deadly threat.
According to him, the state is expanding its outreach by educating communities on prevention, testing, and treatment, while also integrating hepatitis screening into primary healthcare services.
Bashir called on the media to help break down the myths and stigma around hepatitis, and to take action by encouraging testing, safe practices, and timely treatment.
“At ADSPHCDA, we remain committed to strengthening our primary healthcare system – not just for today’s emergencies, but for long-term resilience. But we cannot do this alone”, he said.
The Chairman also expressed concerns on the issue of malnutrition affecting children in the state.
He said the Agency is leveraging platforms like the Child Nutrition Fund to procure critical commodities such as Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food in only seven out of the 21 local government areas in the state.
Bashir noted that the coverage of just seven local government areas out of 21 was not enough.
In her address, Nurzhat Rafique, the UNICEF Chief, Bauchi Field Office, said the issue of malnutrition needed more commitment by all stakeholders to tackle.
Rafique, who also spoke on children immunisation, stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for children in strengthening their health and resistance to diseases.
