Thousands attend free screening services
Dar es Salaam. As part of activities to mark the World Hepatitis Day, the country’s major hospitals have been offering free screening services across the country.
Tanzania today joins the global community to commemorate World Hepatitis Day under the theme ‘Invest in eliminating hepatitis’.
The event will be held at the national level in Dodoma Region.
In Dar es Salaam yesterday, thousands of people turned up at the Aga Khan Hospital to test for hepatitis B and C free of charge.
Ms Zulfa Mfaume, a resident of Temeke, told The Citizen yesterday she decided to test after watching a campaign on television.
“We have heeded the call to go for early testing; so we have come as a family – my husband and mother-in-law,” she said.
Mr Musa Kidia, who comes from Kigamboni, says from the information he has gathered on hepatitis, the disease was a serious a threat as HIV/Aids and cancer.
“It’s better to know in advance so that one can be vaccinated. We used to be afraid to test undergo such tests – and of course there is the issue of cost. But this is free of charge, we come in huge numbers,” he said. Dr Casmir Wambura from Aga Khan Hospital said the institution was also offering education and counseling.
“This disease is serious, so there is need for people to volunteer for testing. We had a target of testing only 500 people, but the numbers are much higher,” he said.
At Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), over 300 people also attended free HBV screening, according to the hospital’s consultant gastroenterologist and herpetologist, Dr Masolwa Ng’wanasayi.
