Senator Katung Targets 620,000 Constituents For Hepatitis Treatment, Vaccination

Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Sunday Marshall Katung, has unveiled “Project 365,” a constituency-based public health initiative aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis across Southern Kaduna communities.

Senator Katung said the project in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is designed to expand access to screening, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination, and prevention services for over 620,000 residents across the senatorial district.

The Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, represented by the deputy governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who flagged off the intervention, described the initiative as timely and people-centred, commending efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

She said the intervention aligns with ongoing health sector reforms and reflects a shared commitment to improving public health outcomes.

Delivering the governor’s message at the flag-off ceremony held in Kafanchan, on Friday, Dr. Balarabe said, “Let me commend Senator Sunday Marshall Katung for this thoughtful and timely initiative. By bringing Project 365 to the eight local government areas of Southern Kaduna, he has demonstrated a clear understanding of the needs of his people and a strong commitment to grassroots healthcare delivery. This is leadership that listens, responds, and delivers.”

She noted that viral hepatitis remains a silent but serious public health threat, often undetected until advanced stages, resulting in severe liver complications and preventable deaths.

According to her, many Nigerians live with hepatitis unknowingly due to late diagnosis, stressing that the initiative would improve awareness, screening, and access to treatment.

“As a medical professional, I must emphasize prevention. Hepatitis B and C are commonly transmitted through infected blood and body fluids, unsafe injections, unscreened blood transfusions, and sharing of sharp objects. Prevention begins with safe medical practices, vaccination, routine testing, and public awareness,” she added.

She urged residents to take advantage of the programme and encouraged community leaders, health workers, and citizens to support early testing and treatment. “There is no shame in illness. What matters is early detection and proper care. Many people live healthy lives when diagnosed early,” she said.

In his remarks, Senator Katung described viral hepatitis as a “silent killer” responsible for significant but often unnoticed deaths across communities.

Katung explained that Project 365 was designed to bridge gaps in healthcare access by taking services directly to communities, including rural areas, markets, schools, and places of worship, adding that the programme will provide free screening, vaccination, treatment support, and sustained awareness campaigns across the eight local government areas of Kaduna South Senatorial District: Zangon Kataf, Kaura, Jema’a, Sanga, Kagarko, Jaba, Kachia, and Kauru.

A representative of the coordinating minister of state for health and social welfare, Dr. Michael Kinsley, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health sector reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery.