YENAGOA – Rotary club of Yenagoa City Center and Yenagoa Towers in partnership with Rotaract Clubs in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital weekend marked the 2022 Hepatitis day with the treatment of about one hundred and Fifty persons of dangerous ailments in partnership with Rotaract Clubs in the State.
The programme, organised with the aim of actualizing the Rotary Area of Focus tagged “Disease Prevention & Treatment”, was supported with technical assistance by the International Family Foundation ( Bayelsa Chapter), Heartland Alliance, World Health Organization (WHO) and Bayelsa State Ministry Of Health.
A total of 150 participants were screened for Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and HIV, of these numbers 1 tested HIV positive, 2 had suspected Diabetes Mellitus and over 20 had elevated Blood pressure. Those detected to have terminal levels of ailments were counseled adequately and referred to the appropriate managing health institutions for follow ups.
Representatives of the various participating groups, the President RC Yenagoa City Center, Rtn Dr. Joshua Mac’Odo, the President of RC Yenagoa Towers Rtn Hedna Okwu, International Family Foundation (IFF), Ayibapreye Ede-Alakere, the Heartland Allaince,
Ngozika Ogbonna, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Orukari and Dr. Makio Perekeme, the State Ministry of Health, Mrs Amaitari Ogoinja and the Silhouette Diagnostics, Dr. Kiridi, observed that available Statistics and record showed that every 30mins people die of hepatitis B & C in the world as such the Rotary and support group decided to carry out the sensitization, screening and immunization of Hepatitis B & C.
According to the President RC Yenagoa City Center, Rtn Dr. Joshua Mac’Odo,”It is important to note that in the course of screening for HIV and Hepatitis some cases where positive and appropriate counseling and referral was done by our medical volunteers. Chronic Hepatitis B and C is a global concern and a leading cause of liver cancer.”
“ In Nigeria, 1 in 4 persons are not aware of their status and this calls for great concern .The world has set aside July 28th every year to celebrate World Hepatitis Day and the theme for this year is “ I Can’t Wait”.The Rotary Club of Yenagoa City Center embarked on a similar project two years ago and decided to repeat same this year with a more robust approach.”
“In addition to screening for Hepatitis B and C ,we vaccinated all those eligible and present during the exercise. Disease prevention and treatment is one of Rotary focus areas in community service projects and this project is in line with it. We also screened for Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and HIV and counseled /referred those who need further management to the appropriate health facility for follow up. We were impressed with the turn out and sincerely appreciate the leadership of the community, who ensured we had a conducive environment for the exercise as well.”
“Our technical partners were also impressed with the level of participants awareness of Hepatitis, vaccine acceptance and uptake and ultimately for the huge turnout. I sincerely appreciate Rotarians, Rotaractors, our technical partners and other volunteers that made this project a huge success”
Earlier, the Secetary to the Yenagoa Council of Chiefs, Chief Nesini C. Kikile, commended Rotary and other technical partners for the gesture and treatments of indigenes of the area, describing their medical outreach as a life saver.
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