The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran has said about 1.2 million people in the state are living with the hepatitis virus.
This is even as he restated the state’s government commitment towards the elimination of the viral disease by 2030 in alignment with the global set targets.
The commissioner stated this on Monday during a press briefing to commemorate the 2025 World Hepatitis Day with the theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down”.
Dr. Labaran said hepatitis B and C constitutes to significant health challenges in Nigeria and Kano State with the country’s prevalence rate at eight percent and the state at six percent.
He explained that the disease though preventable and treatable, often goes undetected, leading to straining healthcare budgets, avoidable deaths from liver cancer and cirrhosis, which is significantly impacting the quality of life.
The commissioner added that the disease is preventable through vaccination, good medical practices, blood screening, and safe sexual practice.
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“In February 2025, we launched a groundbreaking intervention titled: “HepFree mothers, healthy babies” (HepFree Uwadajariri), a public health pilot program focused on eliminating mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B through early screening and treatment,” he stated.
The commissioner also noted that the state has commenced the triple elimination effort on HIV, hepatitis and syphilis among pregnant women and children to prevent mother to child transmission of the disease with a current approval of N95 million for the procurement of test kits and the drugs for those who tested positive
While urging the citizens to go for medical test to be aware of their status to stop the spread of hepatitis, he also reiterated the state government’s commitment to improving access to viral hepatitis services across the state.