Marking World Hepatitis Day 2026, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, stressed that deaths from hepatitis can be avoided through timely access to vaccination, testing and effective treatment.
Under the theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down,” this year’s campaign is focused on removing barriers that prevent individuals and communities from accessing essential hepatitis services. The WHO is calling on governments, healthcare providers, partners and communities to work together to improve awareness, expand coverage and reduce the impact of viral hepatitis.
Although progress has been recorded in reducing new hepatitis B infections, with cases in the WHO African Region declining by 25 per cent between 2015 and 2024, Dr Janabi warned that the disease remains a major public health challenge because many people continue to face delays in diagnosis, treatment and long-term care.
"No one should die from a disease that can be prevented, diagnosed and, in many cases, treated," Dr Janabi said in his message marking the global awareness day.
He noted that important tools needed to control hepatitis are already available, including highly effective hepatitis B vaccines, accurate diagnostic tests, curative treatment for hepatitis C and lifelong therapy for people living with chronic hepatitis B.
According to the WHO, integrating hepatitis prevention and treatment services into primary healthcare systems would help save lives, reduce strain on healthcare facilities and support countries in achieving universal health coverage.
Dr Janabi praised countries in the African Region for making progress in expanding hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination, strengthening efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, and developing hepatitis C elimination programmes.
However, he emphasized that these achievements must be maintained and expanded across all 47 WHO Member States to ensure that more people benefit from available interventions.
Despite progress, several challenges continue to slow efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis. These include limited public awareness, late diagnosis, unequal access to testing and treatment services, especially among underserved populations, and stigma faced by people living with hepatitis.
The WHO Regional Director called on governments to strengthen national hepatitis programmes, increase vaccination coverage, expand testing and treatment services, and ensure that communities play a central role in elimination strategies.
He also appealed to development partners to continue providing technical and financial support to help African countries achieve the global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Dr Janabi reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to working with African nations to strengthen health systems, improve access to essential hepatitis services and prevent new infections, while ensuring that no population is left behind in the fight against viral hepatitis.