Stories by Blessing Otobong-gabriel
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has revealed that over 20 million Nigerians are currently living with Hepatitis B and C infections, 18.2 million with Hepatitis B and 2.5 million with Hepatitis C.
Pate said this during the launch of a nationwide hepatitis elimination campaign tagged “Project 365” initiated to tackle the country’s overwhelming Hepatitis B and C burden and move towards elimination by 2030.
The initiative was officially announced during a ministerial press briefing to commemorate the World Hepatitis Day 2025, with the theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” held in Abuja on Monday.
The minister, who was represented by the Director, Public Health Department in the ministry, Dr Godwin Ntadom, added that over 90 percent of those infected remain undiagnosed and unknowingly transmit the virus, which is often mistaken for malaria. This contributes to a staggering 4,252 annual deaths from liver cancer and results in economic losses estimated between N13.3 trillion and N17.9 trillion annually.
He warned that the disease, though preventable and treatable, continues to silently ravage communities due to low awareness, stigma and limited access to testing and treatment.
Announcing bold and transformative steps initiated for implementation by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; Professor Pate unveiled Project 365, a year-round national programme to boost screening, diagnosis, vaccination and treatment, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
The project will operate alongside ongoing efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs, through integrated public health systems.
In driving systemic change to support the hepatitis elimination agenda, the minister also announced structural reforms and financial commitments, including: the establishment of a Viral Elimination Fund, VEF, increased budgetary support for hepatitis programmmes, tax incentives and regulatory reforms to encourage local vaccine and drug manufacturing, legislative support for expanding diagnostic and treatment services.
“These steps are crucial in making hepatitis medications more affordable and accessible while laying the groundwork for sustainable local pharmaceutical manufacturing”, he noted.
Pate said, “Nigeria can no longer bear the label of having the third-highest hepatitis burden globally. We have the science, strategy and now the will. We will act boldly and with urgency for a Nigeria free from the burden of viral hepatitis.”
Speaking on awareness and sensitisation, the Director and National Coordinator, National AIDS/HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, NASCP, Dr Adebobola Bashorun said the campaign will use community-led approaches.
