By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
Nigeria has been listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) among the countries accounting for a significant share of global hepatitis-related deaths, as the world marks the 2026 World Hepatitis Day with renewed calls to improve access to prevention, testing and treatment.
Observed annually on 28 July, this year’s campaign is themed “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” urging governments, health workers, communities and individuals to dismantle barriers that prevent millions of people from accessing life-saving hepatitis services while tackling stigma and misinformation surrounding the disease.
According to the WHO, viral hepatitis B and C, responsible for 95 per cent of hepatitis-related deaths globally, claimed an estimated 1.34 million lives in 2024, with more than 4,900 new infections recorded daily, amounting to about 1.8 million infections annually.
The global health agency said Nigeria was among 10 countries responsible for 69 per cent of hepatitis B-related deaths worldwide in 2024 and also featured among the countries accounting for 58 per cent of global hepatitis C-related deaths.
WHO noted that although effective vaccines, accurate diagnostic tools, curative treatment for hepatitis C and lifelong therapy for hepatitis B are available, millions of people remain undiagnosed or untreated due to limited awareness, weak health systems, inequality and poor access to healthcare.
The organisation stressed that eliminating viral hepatitis is achievable through stronger political commitment, sustained investment and equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment and care.
Speaking on the disease, Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health District III, Dr Monsurat Adeleke, said hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and warned that some forms of the disease can be severe if left untreated.
She listed common symptoms to include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and yellowing of the eyes and skin, known as jaundice, urging residents to seek prompt medical attention and embrace preventive measures.
World Hepatitis Day is observed every year to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, a preventable disease that remains a leading cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and avoidable deaths worldwide.
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