Rotary District 9127 Offers Free Hepatitis Screening to Over 150 FCT Residents

As part of activities marking the 2025 World Hepatitis Day, Rotary International District 9127, Abuja, conducted a free medical outreach for about 150 residents of the Rugan Fulani Baze community, educating them on the silent but deadly threat of hepatitis.

District Governor, Rotarian Okoro, who led the intervention in the community located around the Jabi axis, emphasised the dangers posed by hepatitis B and C, describing them as “silent killers” that often go unnoticed until serious liver damage has occurred.

“Hepatitis is more harmful than HIV. It destroys the liver and spreads easily, even through sweat,” she said. “That’s why today, we’re checking people, vaccinating the healthy, and treating those who test positive.”

Chairman of Medical Missions, Dr Patrick Ezie, explained that hepatitis is up to ten times more infectious than HIV, with transmission possible through blood, sweat, saliva, and sexual contact.

According to Dr Ezie, those who tested negative for hepatitis will begin a vaccination schedule that will run until September, while those who tested positive will be referred to partner hospitals for further care and placed on treatment.

“We’ve already identified some positive cases here. Thanks to Rotary, we can provide them with medication and even perform liver scans to detect early signs of liver damage,” he said.

On testing children during this outreach, Dr Ezie noted that many had already received hepatitis B vaccines through the National Programme on Immunisation. He also mentioned that Rotary collaborates with the Primary Health Care Board on vaccination days.

Dr Ezie warned that babies born to hepatitis-positive mothers are at high risk of liver cancer later in life if left untreated.

“If a baby contracts hepatitis at birth, there’s a high chance they’ll develop liver cancer by their 30s or 40s,” he said. “That’s why prevention through vaccination and early detection is key.”

Beyond testing, residents were educated on preventive measures. Dr Ezie urged them to avoid unprotected sex, sharing sharp objects, and unsafe blood transfusions.

Michael Oye-Oyewo, General Secretary of the Rotary International Hepatitis Eradication Project, said the intervention in the Rugan Fulani Baze community aimed to ensure that even underserved populations were not left behind in the fight against the disease.

The chief of the community, Malam Umar Lawal, expressed deep appreciation to the Rotary Club for bringing healthcare to their doorstep.
“I am happy to have the Rotary people around. We are very happy. It’s going to be impactful for my people.”

World Hepatitis Day is commemorated every July 28 to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, which affects over 300 million people globally and causes more than a million deaths each year.

Hepatitis is a deadly inflammation of the liver and continues to pose a significant and largely under-addressed public health threat in Nigeria.