by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
In an effort to tackle and eliminate the hepatitis sickness and other diseases in Nigeria by the year 2030, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has launched a nationwide campaign project, known as “365,” which aims to ensure the elimination of hepatitis B and C virus, even as over 20 million Nigerians live with the virus – with estimated 4,252 deaths annually..
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this, while briefing newsmen in Abuja recently, to mark the 2025 World Hepatitis Day, with a theme: ‘Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down.’
While observing that over 20 million Nigerians are currently living with hepatitis B and C infections, he noted that, “People affected with Hepatitis B have the highest number of 18.2 million, while those affected with Hepatitis C virus stood at 2.5 million.”
He was represented by the Director, Public Health Department, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, who noted that, over 90 percent of those infected by the disease remain undiagnosed and, sometimes, unknowingly mistaken for malaria.
According to him, “Due to lack of awareness and limited access to testing and treatment, among other factors in some of the communities, has contributed to over 4,252 deaths from liver cancer with the estimate of economic losses, between ₦13.3 trillion and ₦17.9 trillion annually.”
Prof. Pate, while unveiling the “Project 365” and steps for implementation by his ministry, explained that, “The project will not only boost the screening, diagnosis, vaccination and treatment, most especially in rural communities, but will operate alongside with the ongoing efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs, through integrated public health systems.
In driving Systemic Change to support the hepatitis elimination agenda, he disclosed the structural reforms and financial commitments, including the establishment of a Viral Elimination Fund (VEF), increased budgetary support for hepatitis programming, Tax incentives and regulatory reforms that would encourage local vaccine and drug manufacturing, Legislative support for expanding diagnostic and treatment services.
“These steps are crucial to make hepatitis medications more affordable and accessible, while laying the groundwork for sustainable local pharmaceutical manufacturing,” he said.
The Minister noted that, “Nigeria can no longer bear the label of having the third-highest hepatitis burden globally. We have the science, the strategy and, now, the will. We will act boldly and with urgency, for a Nigeria free from the burden of viral hepatitis.”
Speaking earlier on the awareness and sensitization, the Director and National Coordinator of the National AIDS/HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, said “The campaign will use community-led approaches, including mass testing across communities; Vaccination for Hepatitis B-negative individuals; Treatment rollout for Hepatitis C cases; Advocacy on prevention methods like safe sex and hygiene; Partnerships with State Governments, media, and religious leaders.”
Dr. Bashorun also emphasized the need for adults above 21, who may have missed vaccination under Nigeria’s 2004 Hepatitis B birth-dose policy, to get tested and vaccinated, if negative.
The Director and National Coordinator of HIV/AIDS further highlighted on this year’s theme, saying, “It is a call for breaking social and structural barriers to lifesaving services with implementation of a national framework aligned with SDG 3 and the Global Health Sector Strategy on Hepatitis.”
The representative of the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Adaugo Ngwu, pledged that NOA will continue to partner with the Ministry and civil society organisations to take the hepatitis message to the grassroots.
“As the citizen engagement arm of the government, we are mandated to enlighten the people. We will support this effort by ensuring that the awareness gets across the country,” she assured.