By Asuquo Cletus
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – A Non-Governmental Organisation, Holistique Public Health Initiative, has launched a free hepatitis B screening and vaccination campaign at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), targeting university staff as part of the institution’s first-ever Staff Week.
This is part of its effort to promote preventive healthcare and services.
The medical outreach, organised in partnership with the St. Collins Iwara Development Initiative (SIDI), the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Cross River State Chapter), and UNICROSS, offered free testing and vaccination for hepatitis B and other basic health conditions.
Speaking during the event, Ebubechukwu Bruno Nwagbo, Programme Administrator of Holistique Public Health, described hepatitis B as a silent but deadly disease, warning that many Nigerians are unaware of its prevalence and risks.
“One in every 15 Nigerians lives with a severe form of hepatitis B. In northern Cross River, the figure is even more alarming—one in 10,” Nwagbo said. “The virus doesn’t just affect individuals; it can be passed down to children and grandchildren. It’s 100 times more dangerous than HIV.”
He noted that the outreach was created to bridge healthcare gaps, especially for those with limited access to testing and treatment.
“We test and vaccinate for free. We’ve also created a follow-up system. Participants will be contacted before their second and third doses to ensure completion. If they can’t reach us, we’ll direct them to the nearest pharmacy,” he said.
The university’s Acting Director of Medical Services, Dr Okechukwu Victoria Briggs, praised the initiative and urged staff members to take full advantage of the free vaccination programme.
“This is a welcome development for our university community. The vaccination is completely free, and I encourage all staff to complete the three-dose schedule for effective protection,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Miriam Odey, Chief Data Entry Officer at the University Senate, expressed gratitude after undergoing screening and receiving her first dose of the vaccine.
She said, “This outreach is a blessing. Many of us would not have taken this step if the service hadn’t been brought to us. I now understand the risks, and I’m committed to completing the vaccination.”
The outreach is a cornerstone activity in the university’s newly introduced Staff Week, which promotes staff welfare through health, wellness, and development initiatives.
Holistique Public Health and its partners say they plan to expand the outreach to staff across Cross River State University in the coming months.
