AXA Mansard Health has strengthened its preventive healthcare efforts with a community-based hepatitis awareness and screening programme in Bariga, Lagos, aimed at improving early detection and expanding access to essential health information.
The outreach, held as part of activities marking World Hepatitis Day 2026, provided residents with free hepatitis screening, health education and support services, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to taking preventive healthcare closer to underserved communities.
Participants benefited from on-the-spot screening and received information on hepatitis prevention, diagnosis and treatment, with health professionals emphasising the importance of regular checks and prompt medical attention.
The initiative was designed to address some of the challenges associated with limited awareness and inadequate access to routine screening, which can contribute to the late detection of diseases and increase the risk of serious health complications.
Beyond the medical component, AXA Mansard Health also distributed relief packages to vulnerable families within the community, extending the programme to provide immediate assistance to residents in need.
The organisation said community-based interventions were essential to improving health outcomes, particularly by ensuring that individuals had access to reliable information and basic screening services without having to wait until symptoms became severe.
According to AXA Mansard Health, increasing awareness of hepatitis and encouraging regular screening could help Nigerians identify the disease at an earlier stage and seek appropriate care before complications develop.
Hepatitis remains a significant public health concern, with delayed diagnosis potentially resulting in serious liver-related complications. Strengthening awareness and access to screening is therefore considered an important component of efforts to reduce the impact of the disease.
The outreach also highlights the growing role of private-sector organisations, including health maintenance organisations and insurers, in supporting preventive healthcare initiatives and complementing broader public health efforts.
For the healthcare sector, greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention could help reduce the financial and medical burden associated with advanced illnesses. Early detection often creates an opportunity for timely treatment and management, potentially preventing conditions from progressing and requiring more expensive care.
AXA Mansard Health said it remained committed to initiatives that promote health awareness and empower Nigerians to make informed decisions about their wellbeing.
The organisation stressed that sustained public education, regular screening and timely access to medical care were critical to preventing hepatitis from progressing into severe and potentially life-threatening conditions.
The Bariga campaign underscores the importance of bringing healthcare education and basic screening services directly to communities, particularly areas where residents may face barriers to accessing routine preventive care.
Through initiatives of this nature, private-sector healthcare providers can contribute to a stronger culture of prevention, early detection and informed healthcare-seeking behaviour, while helping communities take more proactive steps towards protecting their health.
AXA Mansard Health Expands Hepatitis Awareness Drive to Bariga
