World Hepatitis Day: Mushin Residents Get Free Screening

A total of 247 residents of Mushin local government area of Lagos State have benefitted from free Hepatitis B screening and health education organised by Cerba Lancet Nigeria as part of activities marking World Hepatitis Day 2026.

The one-day programme, organised in collaboration with the Mushin council, was held at its multipurpose hall and provided the residents with free Hepatitis screening, blood pressure and weight checks, random blood sugar tests and health education on prevention and early detection of the disease.

At the event, the managing director/chief executive officer of Cerba Lancet Nigeria, Dr Olayemi Dawodu, said the initiative was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme aimed at raising awareness about Hepatitis B and encouraging early detection.

Dawodu said the programme was designed to enable the residents to know their Hepatitis status and provide necessary support and referrals for those who test positive.

“What we are doing today is not only about letting them know their current Hepatitis B status. We are also giving them support in terms of food and drugs for those we can assist, as well as organising free tests. At the end of the day, those who test positive will be given referrals to secondary health facilities for proper management of the ailment,” she said.

She explained that the company chose Mushin because of its proximity to Cerba Lancet and its historical connection with the area, noting that the company began its operations there.

Dawodu described Hepatitis B as a viral infection that could lead to serious liver complications, including liver cancer, if not detected and managed early.

According to her, the disease can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person, sharing of needles and syringes, and the use of unsterilised equipment for piercing and tattooing.

She noted that a vaccine was available for Hepatitis B, urging Nigerians who had not been vaccinated to take advantage of the opportunity to protect themselves against the disease.

Dawodu stressed the need for increased public education, particularly at the grassroots, to address the continued spread of Hepatitis B despite the availability of vaccines.

“We still need to do a lot of work by educating communities in their local languages to enable them understand the disease and how it spreads, so that we can prevent a larger number of people from being infected,” she said.

Also speaking, Head of Business Development of Cerba Lancet Nigeria, Temitope Ambrose, said the decision to hold the programme in Mushin was strategic because the company started its operations in the area.

“Choosing Mushin was strategic for us because that was where we started our business. Its proximity to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, which is also close to us as a health facility that provides laboratory services, was also taken into consideration,” Ambrose said.

She explained that the programme was organised shortly after World Hepatitis Day, which was marked on July 28, to sustain awareness about the disease.

Ambrose expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that the organisers initially planned to screen 200 people but recorded 247 participants.

“I’m highly excited with the large turnout. Initially, we made plans for 200 people, but when registration commenced, we had about 247 persons who participated,” she said.

She said the exercise also included registration, vital signs checks, blood pressure and weight checks, random blood sugar testing and Hepatitis screening.

Ambrose stressed the importance of early detection, noting that many people living with Hepatitis may be unaware of their status because the disease can remain undetected for a long period.

The vice chairman of Mushin local government area, who also supervises health in the council, Hon. Semiu Ishola Karaole, commended Cerba Lancet for the initiative, describing it as complementary to the council’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery.

Karaole said the council chairman had made healthcare a priority and had instituted regular health programmes for residents.

“In Mushin Local Government Area, our chairman takes health as his number one priority. That was why he assigned health supervision to me,” he said.

He disclosed that the council has seven primary healthcare centres and four functional ambulances, adding that the council remained committed to improving access to healthcare services.

The medical officer of the council, Dr Odufuwa Kayode, also commended Cerba Lancet for bringing the awareness campaign to the grassroots.

He described Hepatitis B as a common viral disease that could become life-threatening if not detected and managed early.

“What Cerba Lancet is doing is commendable because Hepatitis B is a silent killer if not detected on time. It leads to inflammation of the liver when it becomes cumulative, and this can weaken other organs of the body,” he said.

He added that the Lagos State Government had continued to commit resources towards ensuring that residents were screened and treated promptly.

Some participants expressed appreciation for the free screening, saying the exercise provided them with an opportunity to know their health status.

They called for the initiative to be sustained and extended to other local government areas and local council development areas across Lagos State.