…as 20 million Nigerians remain infected
Benue State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis by expanding access to testing, vaccination, and treatment across the state. The pledge was made on Tuesday by the Honourable Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Ogwuche Paul during the commemoration of World Hepatitis Day 2026 in Makurdi.
Speaking before a gathering of health officials, development partners, civil society groups, and the media, Dr. Ogwuche said this year’s global theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down” is a direct call to dismantle the barriers that prevent people from accessing life-saving services. He noted that the event was an opportunity to reflect on the burden of viral hepatitis and to renew collective efforts toward achieving the 2030 elimination targets.
Citing the World Health Organization’s 2026 Global Hepatitis Report, the Commissioner revealed that an estimated 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C worldwide as of 2024. He said hepatitis B and C together account for more than 95 percent of all hepatitis-related deaths, with 1.34 million lives lost in 2024 alone. According to him, that figure translates to over 3,500 preventable deaths every day, a mortality burden comparable to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
While acknowledging progress made since 2015, including a 32 percent drop in new hepatitis B infections and an 8 percent decline in hepatitis C-related deaths, he warned that the pace of progress remains insufficient. Dr. Ogwuche explained that, according to WHO, more than 4,900 new infections occur every day, and the African Region accounts for 63 percent of all new hepatitis B infections globally. “Tragically, fewer than one in ten people living with hepatitis in the region have been diagnosed or received treatment”, he said
Turning to the national picture, Dr. Ogwuche described the situation in Nigeria as staggering. He stated that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare estimates that more than 20 million Nigerians are currently living with viral hepatitis. He noted that, of this number, approximately 18.2 million have hepatitis B while 2.5 million have hepatitis C. “This means that roughly one in every ten Nigerians is infected. Hepatitis B prevalence in the general population ranges between 8 percent and 15 percent. In Benue State, 35,508 pregnant women were tested for HBV in 2025 and 193 were found to be positive. Research conducted in the state by Prof. Malu and colleagues in 2020 put HBV prevalence at 8 percent and HCV at 1 percent”, he said
The Commissioner expressed concern over what he called a dangerous knowledge-to-action gap. He said that over 90 percent of those infected remain undiagnosed and continue to transmit the virus unknowingly, including to their children. He explained that symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and general weakness are often mistaken for malaria and treated with self-medication, while the virus silently damages the liver and progresses to cirrhosis, liver failure, or cancer.
Dr. Ogwuche emphasized that the tools needed to eliminate viral hepatitis already exist. He noted that there are effective vaccines that provide lifelong protection against hepatitis B, accurate diagnostics to identify infected persons, curative treatments for hepatitis C with cure rates exceeding 95 percent, and lifelong therapies for hepatitis B that suppress the virus and prevent liver disease and cancer. He said the question is no longer whether elimination is possible, but whether there is the will to achieve it.
To that end, he announced that Benue State is aligning with the Federal Government’s Project 365 initiative, a nationwide campaign for screening, diagnosis, and treatment aimed at eliminating hepatitis C and halting hepatitis B transmission by 2030. “The state is working to integrate hepatitis services into primary healthcare and maternal and child health services so that prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care are available at the point where people first seek medical attention.”
He added that outreaches will be conducted this month across all 23 local government areas to scale up testing and referrals. “With support from the Federal Ministry of Health, the state will also provide prophylactic treatment for pregnant women living with HBV in order to drive the elimination of mother-to-child transmission”
The Commissioner identified limited awareness, stigma, health system gaps in underserved communities, and financial constraints as the major barriers to access. He called on healthcare workers to redouble efforts in screening, diagnosis, and treatment, noting that every person tested brings the state closer to elimination.
He urged development partners to sustain and increase investment in hepatitis programmes, and civil society organizations to amplify awareness, combat stigma, and advocate for the rights of those living with hepatitis. He also tasked the media with providing accurate and consistent information, describing knowledge as the first vaccine against ignorance. To citizens, he appealed that they get tested for hepatitis B and C, know their status, get vaccinated if eligible, seek treatment if infected, and ensure that newborns receive the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine within 24 hours of delivery.
Dr. Ogwuche said viral hepatitis is both preventable and treatable, and no Nigerian should die from a disease for which prevention, diagnosis, and cure exist. He said the 2030 elimination targets are within reach, but only if all stakeholders act now, act together, and act decisively. He called for an end to the barriers, the stigma, and the silence surrounding hepatitis, and expressed appreciation to WHO, BENSACA, APIN, AHF, CHAI, and other partners for their continued support.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr. Cephas Hough, emphasized the need for sustained public enlightenment on hepatitis, particularly in rural communities where misinformation and reliance on herbal remedies persist.
He noted that despite progress in reducing infection rates, many villagers still misunderstand the disease and often dismiss its symptoms as minor ailments until complications like jaundice appear. He therefore urged stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns to encourage early medical care and greater uptake of available preventive and treatment services.
On his part, the World Health Organization (WHO) Coordinator in Benue State, Dr. Abdulkarim Mohammed, called for stronger political commitment and increased investment to effectively combat viral hepatitis in the state.
He stated that while technical support and partnerships from WHO and other development agencies remain available, sustainable progress will depend largely on government prioritization of hepatitis in health budgets, policies, and service delivery at both the state and local government levels.
