By Esther Onyegbula

No fewer than 1,110 residents of Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, have benefited from free Hepatitis B and C screening, vaccination and referral services provided by Doxa Health Foundation as part of a sustained public health outreach.

The Foundation said the intervention, which ran from July 28, 2025 to January 24, 2026, targeted both civilians and military personnel, with the aim of raising awareness and providing life-saving intervention against hepatitis infections.

Founder and Executive Director of Doxa Health Foundation, Miss Glory Akawu, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

According to her, Hepatitis B remains a “silent epidemic” in Nigeria, often going undetected until it has caused severe and irreversible liver damage.
“Hepatitis is a silent killer. It damages the liver and compromises its vital functions. By offering free testing, vaccinations and referrals, we hope to empower people to detect and treat the infection early,” Akawu said.
She explained that the outreach at Mogadishu Cantonment commenced on World Hepatitis Day, July 28, 2025, marking the beginning of a phased and sustained intervention by the Foundation.

Akawu said that during the initial phase of the exercise, over 1,110 residents were screened and vaccinated, with 31 individuals testing positive for hepatitis.

“Following the diagnosis, a number of those who tested positive were successfully linked to treatment and management. Their treatment journey has progressed remarkably well, with beneficiaries reporting improved health, renewed hope and visible joy as they continue to respond positively to care,” she said.
To ensure full protection for eligible participants, she noted that a second vaccination exercise was conducted on August 27, 2025, during which over 856 residents received continued vaccination and follow-up services.

She added that the intervention concluded on January 24, 2026, with the third inoculation exercise, during which 715 individuals received their final dose, completing the full Hepatitis B vaccination schedule.
“The outreach ended on a high note, as beneficiaries could not contain their excitement upon receiving free full protection against the Hepatitis B virus,” Akawu said.

She expressed satisfaction that most families and individuals within the cantonment understood the importance of vaccination and actively mobilised others to participate.

“I encountered huge challenges on this journey, but it is with great joy that this location’s vaccination has ended,” she said.

According to Akawu, the Mogadishu Cantonment outreach demonstrated a comprehensive approach to hepatitis prevention, moving from awareness and diagnosis to follow-up, treatment linkage and complete vaccination, with measurable and lasting impact on the community.