The global health agency warned that millions of people in Africa continue to miss out on life-saving hepatitis interventions despite the availability of effective vaccines, diagnostic tools, and medicines capable of preventing severe disease and deaths.
Ahead of World Hepatitis Day, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said viral hepatitis remains a significant public health challenge in the region, although progress has been recorded in reducing new infections.
According to Mr Janabi, new hepatitis B infections declined by 25 per cent between 2015 and 2024, but major gaps remain in diagnosis and access to care.
He said many people living with hepatitis are only diagnosed after the disease has progressed, increasing the risk of serious complications such as liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
“No one should die from a disease that can be prevented, diagnosed and, in many cases, treated,” Mr Janabi said.
He urged governments, development partners, healthcare workers, and communities to work together to remove barriers preventing people from accessing essential hepatitis services.
“Eliminating viral hepatitis is within our reach, but only if proven interventions are available to everyone who needs them,” he added.
WHO Calls for Community-Based Hepatitis Care
Mr Janabi said Africa already possesses the necessary tools to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat, stressing that the main challenge is ensuring those tools reach the people who need them most.
He highlighted the hepatitis B vaccine as one of the most effective prevention measures, noting that it was introduced in the early 1990s and provides up to 95 per cent protection against infection.
He also pointed to improvements in diagnostic technology that allow earlier detection of infections, while noting that hepatitis C can now be cured and that lifelong treatment for hepatitis B can prevent life-threatening complications.
The WHO official said integrating hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment into primary healthcare systems would improve accessibility, reduce costs, and ease pressure on already stretched health services.
“The challenge is no longer scientific but one of political commitment, financing, and equitable access,” he said.
According to Mr Janabi, several African countries have made progress by expanding access to hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination, strengthening programmes to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, and developing hepatitis C elimination strategies.
However, he stressed that these achievements must be maintained and expanded across all 47 countries in the WHO African Region.
Late Diagnosis Remains Major Concern
The WHO Regional Director warned that a large number of people living with viral hepatitis remain unaware of their status until significant liver damage has already occurred.
He identified limited access to testing and treatment, especially in underserved communities, as well as stigma and inadequate public awareness, as major factors slowing progress.
To address these challenges, Mr Janabi encouraged countries to incorporate hepatitis services into routine healthcare throughout people’s lives.
He also called for greater investment in research and innovation to improve access to emerging diagnostic technologies and treatments, particularly for people living with hepatitis B and hepatitis D co-infection.
Development partners, he said, must continue providing technical and financial support to help countries meet the global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
World Hepatitis Day Highlights Need for Action
World Hepatitis Day is observed every year on 28 July to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and encourage stronger prevention, diagnosis, and treatment efforts.
The theme for this year’s observance, “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down,” focuses on removing financial, social, and healthcare system barriers that prevent people from receiving hepatitis services.
WHO describes viral hepatitis as an inflammation of the liver caused by viral infections, which can result in severe health consequences when untreated, including cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
Nigeria Faces Heavy Hepatitis Burden
Nigeria remains among the countries with the highest burden of viral hepatitis worldwide, according to WHO estimates.
The organisation estimates that more than 20 million Nigerians are living with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or both, while more than 80 per cent of affected individuals are unaware of their infection status.
Findings from the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) showed that hepatitis B prevalence among adults aged 15 to 64 years stood at 8.1 per cent, while hepatitis C prevalence was recorded at 1.1 per cent.
The challenge extends beyond Nigeria. WHO estimates that more than 90 million people in the African Region are living with viral hepatitis, representing approximately 26 per cent of the global disease burden.
Despite ongoing efforts to improve hepatitis control, challenges remain, including low testing rates, limited availability of treatment, and gaps in hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine coverage. These challenges allow many infections to remain undetected until serious liver complications develop.
WHO Reaffirms Commitment to Ending Hepatitis in Africa
Against the backdrop of the continent’s continuing hepatitis burden, Mr Janabi reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting African countries in strengthening health systems and expanding access to quality hepatitis services.
He said collaboration among governments, communities, health workers, and international partners would be critical to achieving elimination targets.
“Together, we can prevent new infections, save lives and ensure that viral hepatitis is no longer a barrier to healthier lives for the people of Africa,” Mr Janabi said.