At a recent gathering reviewing the 2026 World Hepatitis Summit outcomes in Bangkok, key stakeholders demanded an immediate and substantial expansion of treatment services for individuals infected with hepatitis B and C. They also emphasized the necessity of increasing the coverage of hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination to meet global elimination objectives by the decade’s end.
The World Health Organization’s Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis sets ambitious benchmarks: a 95% drop in hepatitis incidence, a 65% reduction in related deaths, and ensuring 90% of those infected are diagnosed and 80% receive proper care by 2030.
Held in Jalingo over the weekend, the meeting was coordinated by the Centre for Initiative Development (CFID). It drew participants from health, education, and professional sectors across Taraba State. Officials from the Taraba State Ministry of Health praised CFID’s consistent public health work, noting that its awareness campaigns and support services have significantly expanded hepatitis testing and boosted public knowledge about individual health statuses.
The ministry called for stronger ties with development partners to enhance the state’s hepatitis response. A World Health Organization representative highlighted hepatitis risks and urged collaborative global and local actions to hit the 2030 target. The official recognized CFID’s role in lowering hepatitis rates in Taraba and stressed ongoing training for health workers with up‑to‑date global data.
Institutions including the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Taraba State University, and Muwanshat College of Health and Technology committed to intensifying awareness drives within their campuses and deepening cooperation with CFID to improve community testing and treatment uptake. The Nigerian Medical Association’s Taraba chapter called for broader distribution of recent global hepatitis reports across health facilities, arguing that better access to current data will strengthen clinical responses and disease management. Meanwhile, the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria renewed its promise to promote routine hepatitis testing and counseling, stressing that early diagnosis is vital to reducing transmission and long‑term complications.
A lawyer identified as Barrister Gloria shared her personal experience, exposing widespread myths about hepatitis transmission—clarifying that the disease is not spread through sweat. She urged greater investment in prevention and treatment, noting that stigma continues to hinder testing and care access.
Presenting global figures, CFID’s founder and CEO, Prince (Dr.) Danjuma Adda, reported that roughly 237 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B, with two deaths occurring every minute. He added that about 46 million people have hepatitis C globally, causing one death every two minutes. Adda noted that 2.9% of the world’s population has chronic hepatitis B, and in 2024, 58% of the global hepatitis C burden was concentrated in ten countries, including Nigeria. Hepatitis B and C together account for over 95% of viral hepatitis‑related deaths worldwide.
According to him, around 1.8 million new hepatitis B and C infections were recorded in 2024, with approximately 1.3 million deaths during the same period, primarily from liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. He added that ten countries, including Nigeria, account for 69% of chronic hepatitis B‑related deaths, while another ten countries account for 58% of hepatitis C‑related deaths globally.
However, Adda noted progress, revealing that 85 countries have already met the 2030 target of reducing chronic hepatitis B prevalence among children under five to below 0.1%. “With all hands on deck, the dream of attaining the global elimination target of the virus can be achieved,” he said.