Not less than 100 residents of Amuwo Odofin and its environs in Lagos have benefited from free Hepatitis B screening and vaccination in a community health outreach led by Hon. Stella Foluke Osafile, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, in partnership with Lopez Pharmacy Limited.
The outreach, held in commemoration of World Immunisation Week which holds 24–30 April, brought together healthcare professionals, pharmacists and residents to strengthen awareness on hepatitis prevention and improve access to immunisation services at the grassroots.
Osafile said the initiative underscores the importance of preventive healthcare, stressing that government responsibility must go beyond policy formulation to ensuring citizens are actively protected from preventable diseases.
“Health is wealth. It takes just one illness to wipe out a person’s resources. That is why we must continue to prioritise preventive healthcare and ensure that our people are informed and protected,” she said.
She added that sustained advocacy and community engagement remain critical in reducing the burden of hepatitis and other preventable diseases.
Pharm. Obiageri Ikwu, chief executive officer of Lopez Pharmacy and national financial secretary of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), who led a health education session, said Hepatitis B remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, with many people unaware of their status due to low awareness and limited access to testing and vaccination.
She described the Hepatitis B vaccine as safe, effective and more affordable than long-term treatment, urging residents to complete the full three-dose schedule for maximum protection.
“Hepatitis is not a death sentence, but prevention is critical. People must move beyond testing alone to taking the vaccine, especially if they test negative,” she said.
Also speaking, Pharm. Toyin Bala-Bature highlighted the role of community pharmacists in bridging healthcare gaps through education, screening and vaccination services at the community level.
One beneficiary, Ambassador Ola Ijekpa, said the outreach improved her understanding of the disease and motivated her to take preventive action.
“I didn’t fully understand Hepatitis B before today. Now I know how it affects the body and how it can be prevented. I’m taking the vaccine for the first time, and I’m grateful,” she said.
The programme featured free testing and vaccination for eligible residents, with organisers saying it forms part of ongoing efforts to expand hepatitis immunisation and reduce its prevalence in communities.
A cross-section of residents of Amuwo Odofin Community and its environs with Hon. Stella Foluke Osafile and Pharm. Obiageri Ikwu, at the community health outreach.
L-R:Hon. Stella Foluke Osafile, member, Lagos State House of Assembly and Pharm. Obiageri Ikwu, CEO, Lopez Pharmacy, at the community health outreach.
