FG, senator unveil hepatitis intervention for Southern Kaduna residents

Senator Sunday Katung, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, has unveiled “Project 365,” a constituency-based public health intervention targeting the elimination of viral hepatitis across communities in Southern Kaduna.

The initiative, unveiled on Friday in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is designed to expand access to screening, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination and prevention services for more than 620,000 residents across the senatorial district.

The Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, flagged off the programme at New Choice Hotel, Kafanchan.

She described the intervention as timely and people-centred, noting that it aligns with ongoing health sector reforms aimed at improving healthcare delivery and public health outcomes in the state.

Delivering the governor’s message, Balarabe commended Katung for what she described as “a thoughtful and responsive initiative”, saying it “demonstrated a strong commitment to grassroots healthcare delivery across the eight local government areas of Kaduna South Senatorial District.”

She added that “viral hepatitis remains a silent but serious public health challenge, often undetected until it progresses to advanced stages such as liver cirrhosis and cancer”, and stressed “the importance of early diagnosis, vaccination, safe medical practices and sustained public awareness.”

Katung, in his remarks, described viral hepatitis as a “silent killer” responsible for “preventable deaths in many communities.”

He explained that Project 365 was designed to “close gaps in healthcare access by bringing services closer to residents, particularly in rural areas, markets, schools and places of worship.”

According to him, the programme will provide free screening, vaccination, treatment support and sustained awareness campaigns across Zangon Kataf, Kaura, Jema’a, Sanga, Kagarko, Jaba, Kachia and Kauru local government areas.

He also called for stronger community engagement to reduce stigma associated with the disease, stressing that hepatitis is a medical condition and not a moral failing. He urged residents to take advantage of the intervention, noting that early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes.

The Coordinating Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Michael Kinsley, who was represented at the event, said the initiative “aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s health sector reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery nationwide.”

He noted that viral hepatitis remains a major global and national health burden, with an estimated 25 million Nigerians affected, adding that the intervention would help bring essential services closer to underserved communities.

Health experts at the event also described hepatitis as a silent killer and encouraged residents to participate in the free testing and vaccination exercise, while traditional and religious leaders pledged support for awareness campaigns.

The programme is scheduled to run from April 13 to May 29, 2026, across primary healthcare centres in the eight local government areas of Kaduna South Senatorial District.