Stakeholders urge expanded hepatitis B and C response to reach 2030 elimination goal

During a dissemination meeting held over the weekend in Jalingo, stakeholders reviewed the outcomes of the 2026 World Hepatitis Summit in Bangkok and urged a rapid expansion of treatment for people living with hepatitis B and C. They also called for broader coverage of the hepatitis B birth‑dose vaccination to help meet the global elimination targets set for 2030.

The World Health Organization’s Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis outlines goals to cut hepatitis incidence by 95 percent by 2030, sharply reduce new hepatitis B and C infections, and lower hepatitis‑related deaths by 65 percent.

In addition, the strategy aims for 90 percent of people with hepatitis B and C to be diagnosed and for 80 percent of those eligible to receive treatment.

The meeting, organized by the Centre for Initiative Development (CFID), gathered stakeholders from health, education, and professional sectors across Taraba state.

Officials from the Taraba State Ministry of Health praised CFID for its ongoing public‑health interventions, noting that its awareness campaigns and support services have improved hepatitis testing and increased public knowledge of personal health status.

The ministry also urged continued collaboration with development partners to further strengthen the state’s hepatitis response.

A representative of the World Health Organization highlighted the dangers posed by hepatitis and stressed the need for coordinated global and local action to reach the 2030 elimination target.

The WHO official commended CFID’s work in reducing hepatitis prevalence in Taraba State and emphasized the importance of ongoing capacity building for health workers using updated global data.

Health institutions—including the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Taraba State University, and Muwanshat College of Health and Technology—pledged to intensify awareness campaigns within their institutions and to deepen collaboration with CFID to increase testing and treatment uptake in communities.

The Nigerian Medical Association, Taraba State chapter, called for wider dissemination of updated global hepatitis reports across health facilities, arguing that improved access to current data would strengthen clinical response and disease management.

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to promoting routine hepatitis testing and counselling, stressing that early diagnosis remains critical to reducing transmission and long‑term complications.

Legal practitioner Barrister Gloria shared her personal experience, noting widespread misconceptions about hepatitis transmission and clarifying that the disease is not spread through sweat. She called for increased investment in hepatitis prevention and treatment, pointing out that stigma continues to hinder testing and access to care.

CFID Founder and Chief Executive Officer Prince (Dr.) Danjuma Adda presented global data, stating that about 237 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis B, with two deaths recorded every minute. He added that roughly 46 million people are infected with hepatitis C, resulting in one death every two minutes.

According to Adda, 2.9 percent of the global population is living with chronic hepatitis B, while 58 percent of the global hepatitis C burden in 2024 was concentrated in ten countries, including Nigeria. He further noted that hepatitis B and C account for more than 95 percent of viral hepatitis‑related deaths worldwide.

He reported that about 1.8 million new hepatitis B and C infections were recorded in 2024, and approximately 1.3 million deaths occurred during the same period, mainly from liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

He added that ten countries, including Nigeria, account for 69 percent of chronic hepatitis B‑related deaths, while another ten countries account for 58 percent of hepatitis C‑related deaths globally.

Despite these challenges, Adda highlighted progress, noting that 85 countries have already met the 2030 target of reducing chronic hepatitis B prevalence among children under five to below 0.1 percent.

“With all hands on deck, the dream of attaining the global elimination target of the virus can be achieved,” he said.