The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concerns over the growing burden of viral hepatitis in Nigeria, revealing that more than 80 per cent of Nigerians living with the disease are unaware of their infection, a situation it says is fuelling late diagnosis, preventable deaths and severe liver complications.
Ahead of this year's World Hepatitis Day, the global health agency disclosed that Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest burden of viral hepatitis worldwide, with more than 20 million people estimated to be living with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or both.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, said despite a 25 per cent decline in new hepatitis B infections across the African Region between 2015 and 2024, viral hepatitis continues to pose a major public health challenge.
According to the organisation, findings from the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) showed that hepatitis B prevalence among Nigerians aged between 15 and 64 years stands at 8.1 per cent, while hepatitis C prevalence is estimated at 1.1 per cent.
WHO noted that the burden extends beyond Nigeria, with more than 90 million people estimated to be living with viral hepatitis across the WHO African Region, representing about one-quarter of the global disease burden.
The organisation, however, expressed concern that low testing rates, inadequate access to treatment and poor uptake of the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine continue to undermine efforts to eliminate the disease in many African countries.
Janabi said effective vaccines, reliable diagnostic tools and life-saving treatment for viral hepatitis are readily available, but millions of people are still unable to access these services, resulting in delayed diagnosis and avoidable deaths.
He stressed that most hepatitis-related deaths are preventable if infected persons are diagnosed early and receive prompt treatment.
The WHO Regional Director called on governments, healthcare providers, development partners and communities to strengthen national hepatitis control programmes by expanding access to vaccination, routine screening, diagnosis and treatment services.
He also urged African countries to remove barriers limiting access to hepatitis care, insisting that the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat is achievable through sustained political commitment and equitable access to proven interventions.
WHO reiterated that increasing public awareness, strengthening health systems and expanding preventive healthcare services remain critical to reducing the burden of viral hepatitis and achieving global elimination targets.
