The Federal Government has raised concerns over the economic burden of viral hepatitis in Nigeria, estimating that the country loses between N13.3 trillion and N17.9 trillion annually due to the disease.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this while briefing the media to commemorate the 2025 World Hepatitis Day in Abuja.
The 2025 World Hepatitis Day, themed ‘Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down’, calls for collective action to overcome the medical, structural, and social barriers that prevent millions of people from accessing the care and treatment they need to manage and overcome hepatitis.
The minister, who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, also disclosed that over 8.1% of the Nigerian population is infected with Hepatitis B, and despite the availability of vaccination and treatment, over 90% of those infected are undiagnosed and unknowingly transmit the virus to others, including children.
He said, “Symptoms are often misdiagnosed as malaria. Conditions such as fever, fatigue, and malaise are typically treated with self-medication, while the virus silently damages the liver and may progress to liver failure or cancer. Tragically, 4,252 Nigerians die each year from liver cancer caused by untreated hepatitis.
“Approximately 20 million Nigerians are living with viral hepatitis, with 18.2 million affected by Hepatitis B and 2.5 million by Hepatitis C. Tragically, 4,252 Nigerians die annually from liver cancer caused by untreated hepatitis.”
In response to this crisis, he disclosed that the government has launched “Project 365,” a nationwide screening, diagnosis, and treatment campaign aimed at eliminating Hepatitis C and halting the transmission of Hepatitis B by 2030.
“The Ministry is also working to increase budgetary support for hepatitis programs, establish the Viral Elimination Fund (VEF), and provide tax incentives and regulatory reforms to support domestic production of hepatitis medications,” he added.
Also in his goodwill message, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Acting Country Representative, Dr. Alex Gasasira, called on Nigeria to take bold action against hepatitis, as he described it as a disease that affects millions of people in the country.
Gasasira, who was represented by Dr Mya Ngon, said, across the WHO African Region, more than 70 million people live with chronic hepatitis B or C, yet fewer than 1 in 10 have received a diagnosis or treatment.”
He emphasised that Nigeria bears a significant burden of hepatitis, with 325,000 new hepatitis B and C infections recorded in 2022, ranking third worldwide in hepatitis prevalence.
The WHO representative commended Nigeria’s ongoing implementation of the triple elimination initiative, which aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis, and STIs.
He also praised the government’s plan to reduce treatment costs, promote local production, and prioritise nationwide screening.
Gasasira urged Nigeria to ensure hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination within 24 hours of delivery, integrate testing and treatment into primary health care services, combat stigma and misinformation, secure sustainable domestic financing, and protect the rights of those living with hepatitis.
“We have the knowledge, we have the tools, what we need now is the will. Together, we can break hepatitis down. Together, we can build a Nigeria and an Africa where hepatitis no longer determines one’s fate.” He said.
The National Coordinator of the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, disclosed that the programme has launched a nationwide campaign dubbed “Project 365” to combat Hepatitis B and C in Nigeria.
He added that the campaign aims to screen, diagnose, and treat hepatitis in every community and constituency across the country.
According to Bashorun, the campaign will involve community mobilisation and sensitisation to raise awareness about the disease and promote testing and treatment.
“We are working closely with the National Assembly to reach every constituency, and with the National Transportation Agency to pass the right information on hepatitis B and C.
“The mode of transmission can be through sex, blood contact, or contact with infected body fluids, so we need to be careful and take necessary precautions,” Bashorun said.
Bashorun explained that there is no cure for hepatitis B, but there are drugs that can moderate the rapidity of the development of chronic hepatitis B infection. For hepatitis C, however, there is a curable treatment available.
The NASCP boss also emphasised the importance of vaccination against hepatitis B, particularly for children.
“Any child born should be vaccinated against hepatitis B. For adults above 21 years who have not been vaccinated, we recommend testing and vaccination if negative,” he said.
When asked about projections for future infections, Bashorun noted that if left unchecked, the number of cases would increase.
“If we don’t vaccinate, there will be more cases. If we don’t find those that are positive and put them on treatment or prevent infection, there will be more transmission of infection.
“The campaign aims to find those infected through testing and provide them with adequate treatment, and to mobilise communities and promote vaccination against hepatitis B,” he said
