UYO— OncoBridge Foundation has taken the fight against viral hepatitis to grassroots communities in Akwa Ibom State with free screening, vaccination linkage and health education to residents of West Itam as part efforts to prevent liver cancer and other complications of the disease.

The intervention, held at the Primary Health Centre, West Itam, to commemorate World Hepatitis Day, was organised in collaboration with the International Cancer Centre and the Prof Nkanta Frank Ekanem Foundation Incorporated (PNFF), under the theme, “Let’s Break It Down.”

Activities included a road walk, public awareness campaign, health education, free hepatitis screening, linkage of non-reactive participants to Hepatitis B vaccination, counselling and sensitisation on prevention and complications.

Founder of OncoBridge Foundation, Dr. Maurice Johnson, said the campaign was aimed at taking hepatitis prevention and cancer awareness to underserved communities where access to health information and services remained limited.

“Viral hepatitis is a very important public health issue, but unfortunately, many people do not even know that such diseases exist. Hepatitis B is the commonest and most dangerous because it is the leading cause of liver cancer,” Johnson said.

He noted that Hepatitis B was as common as HIV but received far less public attention despite being preventable through screening, vaccination and early treatment.

“You can walk around carrying the virus without any symptoms. That is why screening is extremely important. Without testing, people cannot know their status, and early intervention becomes impossible,” he added.

Johnson disclosed that an estimated 3.4 to four per cent of the world’s 8.1 billion population live with viral hepatitis, warning that untreated chronic infection could lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer.

Also speaking, President of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ekomobong Udoh, commended the foundation for targeting rural residents, including market women, with education on prevention and early detection.

“The goal is to ensure that people understand hepatitis, know the risk factors, get tested, receive appropriate treatment where necessary, and take advantage of available vaccines to prevent chronic infection,” Udoh said,
urging residents to avoid sharing needles, practise safe sex and maintain proper hygiene.

Co-founder of OncoBridge Foundation, Dr. Joseph Etuk, said the outreach adopted the WHO triple-elimination approach, screening for Hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis.
He called for urgent action to remove financial, social and systemic barriers, including stigma, that hinder hepatitis elimination.

Principal Nursing Officer at PHC West Itam, Mrs. Itoro Celestine Umoh, commended the initiative, saying early identification would facilitate prompt referral for specialist care.

Participants, including market women, medical students and healthcare professionals, praised the foundation for taking hepatitis prevention directly to the grassroots.