By Lizzy Carr
Alheri YS Foundation, in collaboration with Wuntin Al-khair Foundation, has called for increased public awareness, early testing, and improved access to hepatitis prevention and treatment through a two-day free medical outreach for residents of Tirwun and Goldolbi communities in Bauchi Local Government Area.
The outreach, organized to commemorate World Hepatitis Day, is providing free hepatitis screening for 500 residents, alongside counselling services, hepatitis B vaccination, health education, public awareness, malaria and HIV testing, hypertension checks, and referrals for treatment where necessary.
The first day of the exercise was held at the Tirwun Primary Health Care Centre and attracted a large number of community members seeking to know their health status.
The programme aligns with the 2026 World Hepatitis Day theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” which highlights the need to eliminate barriers to hepatitis awareness, testing, treatment, and care.
Speaking during the outreach, a representative of Alheri YS Foundation, Fauziya Ahmed, said the initiative was designed to promote early detection and reduce the burden of viral hepatitis through community-based health interventions.
She urged members of the public, particularly those who have never been screened, to undergo hepatitis B and C testing, stressing that early diagnosis and treatment can prevent severe complications associated with the disease.
According to her, hepatitis B vaccination remains one of the safest and most effective ways of preventing infection.
“We are also testing for HIV and hypertension. Those who test negative for hepatitis B are vaccinated, while those who test positive are referred to appropriate health facilities for treatment,” she said.
Also speaking, a representative of Wuntin Al-khair Foundation, Abduljabba Ismail, said the organisation came fully prepared to provide comprehensive screening, counselling, vaccination, and malaria testing through a team of qualified medical personnel.
The Village Head of Tirwun, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed, commended the two foundations for bringing the outreach to the community, describing the initiative as timely and beneficial.
He said the programme would enable many residents to know their hepatitis status and access preventive healthcare services at no cost.
Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the organisers, describing the exercise as a rare opportunity to receive free screening and vaccination that many could not otherwise afford.
Health experts say common symptoms of hepatitis include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and eyes.
However, many people infected with hepatitis may not show symptoms in the early stages, making regular screening essential for early detection and treatment.
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