Elixir Trust Foundation has called for urgent and coordinated action to eliminate viral hepatitis in Nigeria by 2030, as the global community marked World Hepatitis Day 2026 on Tuesday.
In a statement released in Makurdi on Tuesday, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Emmanuel Ikule, said the 2026 commemoration serves as a reminder that millions of Nigerians continue to live with hepatitis B and hepatitis C without knowing their status. He noted that many cases are diagnosed only after patients develop severe complications such as liver cirrhosis or liver cancer, despite the fact that viral hepatitis is preventable, treatable, and in the case of hepatitis C, curable.
Ikule said that while progress has been made in raising awareness and expanding access to testing and treatment, major gaps persist. He identified limited public awareness, inadequate screening services, stigma and discrimination, high out-of-pocket costs, and unequal access to quality healthcare as key barriers hindering Nigeria’s response to the disease.
The Foundation called on the Federal Government, State Governments, development partners, healthcare providers, civil society organizations, and the private sector to increase investments in comprehensive hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment, and care. It stressed that eliminating hepatitis will require sustained political commitment, coordinated action, and increased domestic financing.
Elixir Trust Foundation urged governments at all levels to expand access to free or affordable hepatitis B and C screening services, increase the availability of the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine for newborns and routine immunization for eligible populations, and integrate hepatitis services into primary healthcare as well as existing HIV, tuberculosis, maternal and child health programmes.
The organization also recommended improving access to affordable diagnostics and treatment in underserved and rural communities, strengthening surveillance systems and data collection, intensifying public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, and increasing budgetary allocations and timely release of funds for viral hepatitis services at the state level.
Ikule further encouraged all Nigerians to know their hepatitis status through testing, seek appropriate medical care if diagnosed, and adopt preventive measures including hepatitis B vaccination, safe medical practices, and healthy lifestyles.
As a member of the Civil Society Network on Hepatitis in Nigeria, the Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national and state-level efforts through advocacy, community awareness, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and partnerships aimed at expanding access to services for vulnerable and underserved populations.
“The fight against hepatitis is a shared responsibility. Together, we can prevent new infections, improve access to life-saving services, support those living with hepatitis, and move Nigeria closer to achieving the global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030,” Ikule said.
Marking the day, the Foundation called on every Nigerian to take action with the message: Get Tested. Get Vaccinated. Get Treated. Protect Your Liver. Protect Your Future.
