10/08/2025
THE HONOURABLE CONGRESSMAN,
Dist. Hon. Omang Charles Omang
(Esq). Member representing Bekwarra constituency, Cross River State House of Assembly.
I have been one of the most privileged constituents of Bekwarra to have had the opportunity to meet you in person during your mandate as our representative. Sincerely, through our partnerships and support from private citizens, we have made recognizable efforts in advocating for government interventions on our various appeals and have demonstrated a micro-implementation of our proposals.
If considered, these efforts will provide a realistic and holistic appreciation of our work based solely on the critical needs of your constituency, Northern Cross River, and the state at large.
Our efforts have been recognized by the international community as a self-funded, community-led organization with evidence of local resource mobilization, as published by the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination USA in collaboration with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health. This recognition previously led to a scholarship and participation in the International Viral Hepatitis Elimination Meeting held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in December 2022.
We have also received the endorsement and support of Hepatitis B Foundation USA, which has been our most outstanding international partner, with our organization serving as a firm member of the African Hepatitis B Advocacy Coalition (ABAC).
Furthermore, we secured membership with the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) in November 2023 and have followed the activities of the global agenda of the World Health Organization (WHO) on SDGs, which your honour serves as the House Committee Chairman for at the state legislation level.
Presently, we hold a tenured seat as a member of the Civil Society Network On Hepatitis Nigeria (CiSNH-Nig), led by Dr. Nseabasi Ekanem as the National Coordinator, while working closely with Dr. Prince Ochuko Okinedo as Asst.Lead.,Advocacy & Mobilization committee, as well as Asst lead., Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning.
Dear Honourable, all these efforts we have made as private citizens and have been reported to your respectable office.
Sincerely, Sir, our hope as members of the affected community rests largely on your response to our continuous appeal, as more than a million persons will read this passionate appeal before your distinguished office.
There's an urgency in our appeal and We have requested:
1. Provision of vaccines to immunize those not infected with hepatitis B disease (to be donated to the PHC Department of Bekwarra Health Authority).
2. Provision of medication for those who meet the treatment eligibility criteria (to be donated to the PHC Department of Bekwarra Health Authority and prescribed only by a Medical Doctor).
3. Treatment support for those who are willing to engage in treatment but cannot afford the cost of further diagnosis, such as:
✓ Liver function test
✓ Viral load count
✓ Viral DNA profiling (essential diagnosis to confirm their health status and enable doctors to make informed decisions).
As part of our joint progress report, we have had 63 major medical outreaches, especially to the most underserved communities of Bekwarra, between December 2022 and the present, while screening over 5,100 persons at no cost for hepatitis B and recently integrating Hepatitis C into our services. As spoke sites, PHCs Nyanya and Beten have been activated for daily counselling and free testing for both Hepatitis B and C, while also considering service extensions to other facilities soon.
Dear Honourable, Bekwarra needs your attention urgently to salvage this life-threatening, silent biological weapon that is already rendering individuals and families helpless while gaining momentum as a public health threat. It is estimated that hepatitis-B will outnumber the combined mortality of Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis by 2040 if not handled now.
From the community of people living with hepatitis B and C, their families, and members of the affected community, please accept our most esteemed regards, Dear Honourable.
Yours Truly,
David Irinam,
Hepatitis B patient community advocate/representative,
Team Lead, Bekwarra Hepatitis B Support & Advocacy Initiative, Cross River State.
(NGO, CSO, CBO, NPO).
David Irinam Theresa Akwaji Ushie Emmanuel Adariku Godsward Agnes Agbo Onigah Sacred Heart Parish, Gakem Evan Peter eneji Hep B United Patrick Amajama
