45% of Southern Kaduna Residents Suffering From Hepatitis C, 8 die weekly…

By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna.
A Youth Corper Member serving with Sir Patrick Yakowa General Hospital, Kafanchan, Dr. Dominic Ativie, has raised an alarm of the prevalence of Hepatitis C in Southern Kaduna leading to about eight (8) people dying every week from the hospital.
“I have personally carried out a medical data research, I discovered that about 7 to 8 patients died every week in the hospital as a result of Hepatitis C.
“As a result, I said to myself there is the need for a thorough research of the prevalence of Hepatitis C in Southern Kaduna. I worked on it from March to September, 2016 and from the data I gathered,  about 45 per cent of the people living in Southern Kaduna are infected and currently living with Hepatitis C,” Dr Ativie explained.
Speaking in Kafanchan during a 6-day free health outreach to some communities in Southern Kaduna, Dr. Ativie noted that looking at the prevalence of Hepatitis C and other health related issues in the area, he was moved to contribute towards touching the lives of the rural dwellers by offering free medical treatment to the people.
He observed that initially he was confronted with the problem of finance but was assisted by the Kaduna State Government in collaboration with UNICEF, stressing that people are being given free treatment on Hepatitis C, Malaria, HIV and other health issues.
 
The representative of Kaduna State government and UNICEF, Dauda Idris Doka commended the efforts of the Corp Member, pointing out that when the proposal was made known to the state government, it was later presented to UNICEF with little funds made available for the realization of the noble objective.
 
The medical outreach witnessed the presence of women, children and youths that came in large number and were treated for different ailments.