Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, on Friday unveiled a constituency-based public health initiative aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis across Southern Kaduna communities.
The project, launched in Kafanchan 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, Senator 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 at New Choice Hotel, Kafanchan, on Friday, April 10, 2026, Dr Balarabe said: “I am honoured to represent His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, at this important occasion.
“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.
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In his remarks, Senator Katung described viral hepatitis as a “silent killer” responsible for significant but often unnoticed deaths across communities.
“Millions of people are living with hepatitis unknowingly. Without early detection and treatment, it can progress to severe liver diseases, including cirrhosis and cancer,” he said.
He said 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, stated that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health sector reforms, which aim to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
He noted that hepatitis remains a major global and national health challenge, with an estimated 25 million Nigerians affected.
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