The Taraba State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Innocent Vakkai, has said the state has a 40 percent prevalence rate of Hepatitis B which is four times over the national figure.
He made this known while signing the N1.3 billion partnership agreement between the state government and Roche Pharmaceutical Company for Hepatitis treatment in his office in Jalingo.
Dr. Vakkai explained that the funds would be provided over a period of five years under the partnership agreement.
The commissioner explained that with the signing of the agreement, 50,000 people in the state would benefit from free screening for Hepatitis B and C, adding that 40,000 of those screened were expected to be positive for Hepatitis B. He said those that tested positive would be required to be vaccinated free of charge, adding however that there was no vaccine for Hepatitis C.
Dr. Vakkai said that Roche, which is a major pharmaceutical company, would also provide quality drugs for treatment of those infected at 50 percent less to government and vital equipment for testing of viral load of infected persons at the State Specialist Hospital Jalingo.
The commissioner explained that at present, only two health facilities in the country have Hepatitis viral load testing machines.
He said the project would commence this year and that 3000 people would be screened out of which 100 patients would be treated.
The general manager in charge of the sub-Saharan region of the company, Mr. Markus Gemuend, said the signing of the agreement would help save lives and also control the spread of the disease. He added that if left untreated, Hepatitis B would lead to liver and cancer diseases.
By: Magaji Isa, Jalingo
Daily Trust News
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