Stakeholders at a dissemination meeting on the outcome of the 2026 World Hepatitis Summit in Bangkok have called for urgent scaling up of treatment for people living with hepatitis B and C, as well as improved coverage of hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination, in order to meet global elimination targets set for 2030.
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The targets, set under the World Health Organization’s Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis, aim to reduce hepatitis incidence by 95 percent by 2030, significantly cut new infections of hepatitis B and C, and achieve a 65 percent reduction in hepatitis-related deaths.
The strategy also seeks to ensure that 90 percent of people living with hepatitis B and C are diagnosed, while 80 percent of those eligible receive treatment.
The dissemination meeting, convened over the weekend in Jalingo by the Centre for Initiative Development (CFID), brought together stakeholders from health, education, and professional bodies across Taraba state.
Officials from the Taraba State Ministry of Health commended CFID for its sustained public health interventions, noting that its awareness campaigns and support services have increased hepatitis testing and improved knowledge of personal health status among residents.
The ministry urged continued collaboration with development partners to strengthen hepatitis response efforts in the state.
A representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighted the dangers of hepatitis and stressed the importance of coordinated action to achieve global elimination by 2030.
The official also praised CFID’s contributions in reducing hepatitis prevalence in Taraba State and emphasised the need for continuous capacity building for health workers using the latest global hepatitis data.
Health training institutions, including the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Taraba State University, and Muwanshat College of Health and Technology, pledged to intensify awareness campaigns within their campuses and strengthen collaboration with CFID to promote testing and treatment uptake among communities.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Taraba State chapter, also called for wider dissemination of updated global hepatitis reports across health facilities, saying improved access to current data would enhance clinical response and disease management.
The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, reaffirmed its commitment to encouraging routine hepatitis testing and counselling, describing early diagnosis as key to reducing transmission and long-term complications.
A legal practitioner, Gloria, highlighted widespread misconceptions about hepatitis transmission, clarifying that the disease is not spread through sweat.
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She urged greater investment in hepatitis prevention and treatment, noting that stigma continues to hinder testing and care-seeking behaviour.
Presenting data from the global findings, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CFID, Danjuma Adda, said about 237 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis B virus infection, with two deaths recorded every minute.
He added that approximately 46 million people are infected with hepatitis C virus globally, contributing to one death every two minutes.
Adda noted that 2.9 percent of the global population lives with chronic hepatitis B, while 58 percent of the global hepatitis C burden in 2024, was concentrated in 10 countries, including Nigeria.
He also disclosed that hepatitis B and C account for more than 95 percent of viral hepatitis-related deaths globally.
According to him, around 1.8 million new hepatitis B and C infections were recorded in 2024, while about 1.3 million deaths occurred within the same period, largely due to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
However, Adda noted progress, revealing that 85 countries have already achieved the 2030 target of reducing chronic hepatitis B prevalence among children under five to below 0.1 per cent.
“With all hands on deck, the dream of attaining the global elimination target of the virus can be achieved,” he said.
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