Taraba, firm plan N1.3b scheme to tackle hepatitis

The Taraba government has entered into partnership with pharmaceutical company, Roche, to combat hepatitis. The state has the highest prevalence rate of the disease in Nigeria.

Under the deal, Roche will provide drugs for treatment of infected individuals at 50 per cent the actual cost. The company will also provide equipment for testing of viral load of infected persons.

With signing of the agreement, about 50,000 citizens of the states would benefit from free screening for both hepatitis B and C.

The government has “agreed to provide the required N1,325,000,000 needed to fund the project over the next five years,” said Commissioner of Health, Innocent Vakkai.

Roche General Manager (Sub-Saharan Africa), Markus Gemuend, said the alarming prevalence of the disease in the state, necessitated the partnership.

He named Kenya, Gabon, and Ivory Coast as countries that have also benefited from the company’s gesture, urging people of the state to avail themselves to the opportunity.