Written by Bernard Otu Assim-ita
Contributors: Gift Eneh Akor, Sakinah Ghazali
Some of the most meaningful moments during Testing Week 2025 were not found in the number of tests conducted or the size of the outreach. They were found in the small, human interactions that revealed how deeply community leadership shapes health decisions. They happened under the shade of a tree in Mgagbo Akpugon, along the walkways of a busy university campus, in a special school full of eager learners, and on a football field where a lively match slowly gave way to conversations about hepatitis and HIV.
Community Head in Mgagbo Akpugon delivering his welcome address and charge to the community to drive testing uptake.
At Mgagbo Akpugon, the outreach began with a gesture that set the tone for the entire week. The community chief welcomed the EVA team and encouraged his people to come out for testing. His influence changed the atmosphere. People arrived early, open and curious, because a leader they trusted had encouraged them to do so.
One elderly man stepped forward first. He said quietly, “I came because my Igwe told us to know our status. I also came because I have been worried for a long time.” His honesty captured the courage that many people need to face the unknown. When he completed his test, he looked relieved. “Now I feel more confident to protect myself and my family.” That moment showed what happens when community leadership meets accessible health services. It becomes easier for people to choose clarity over fear.
Across Ebonyi State University, students turned learning spaces into circles of shared knowledge. They asked questions about symptoms, stigma, and prevention. Many had heard about hepatitis but had never been told what it really meant. Their curiosity showed how quickly young people step forward when information feels honest and approachable.
At Izzi Special School, young learners listened attentively as educators explained hepatitis and HIV in simple, age-appropriate ways. Their interest reminded the team that health communication must always include young people with disabilities, not as an afterthought but as active participants in their health journey.
Then there was the football field outreach. After the final whistle, a crowd of young men drifted toward the testing table. One of them, still catching his breath, said, “I did not know anything about hepatitis before today. Now I understand why it matters.” The shift from play to awareness happened naturally because the information came to them where they felt comfortable.
By the end of the week, thousands of people had been reached with information and many accessed free hepatitis C and HIV testing. The numbers matter, but what truly defined the week were the conversations, the hesitations that turned into understanding, and the trust that grew in each community. People made choices for their health because the information was clear, the environment was safe, and their leaders and peers encouraged them to take that step.
Meanwhile, in Gombe, a milestone event strengthened the connection between community leadership and health outcomes in a different way. The launch of the Low Dead Space Syringe and Needle initiative brought government actors, civil society groups, harm reduction networks, and people who inject drugs into the same room. The facility tour demonstrated a complete care pathway from testing to counselling to treatment, showing how safer equipment and community-supported services can reduce hepatitis transmission and create stronger health systems.
What linked the experiences in Ebonyi and Gombe was a shared truth. Health systems become stronger when communities trust the process enough to participate. Chiefs who call their people forward. Youth who encourage their peers. Teachers who open the door for learning. Government officials who listen to stories and commit to better structures. These moments create the conditions for better health outcomes long after the outreach tents are packed away.
Testing Week 2025 reminded us that progress is built on relationships. It grows in spaces where people feel seen and respected. It grows when leaders use their voice to encourage action rather than fear. It grows when young people take ownership of their health story. And it grows when community-based services meet people in their everyday lives.
EVA will continue to work alongside communities, strengthening harm reduction pathways, expanding access to testing, empowering youth leadership, and supporting the local structures that make health information feel familiar rather than distant. The week may be over, but the lessons it offered will guide our steps. When communities lead, change always follows.