Nigeria Loses N17.9 trillion Annually to Hepatitis, Says FG
Abuja, July 29, 2025— The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria suffers an annual economic loss of between N13.3 trillion and N17.9 trillion due to the widespread impact of viral hepatitis, calling for urgent national action to tackle the disease.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, made this known during a media briefing to commemorate World Hepatitis Day 2025 in Abuja. Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, the minister said the theme for this year, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” highlights the need to dismantle barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Alarming Prevalence and Impact
According to the minister, more than 8.1% of Nigeria’s population is living with Hepatitis B, yet over 90% of cases go undiagnosed, allowing the disease to spread undetected and often misdiagnosed as malaria.
“Symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and malaise are often treated with self-medication, while the virus silently causes liver damage, which may progress to liver failure or cancer,” he said. Tragically, 4,252 Nigerians die every year from liver cancer caused by untreated hepatitis, the government revealed.
An estimated 20 million Nigerians are living with viral hepatitis, with 18.2 million affected by Hepatitis B and 2.5 million by Hepatitis C.
Government Response: “Project 365”
To address the crisis, the Federal Ministry of Health has launched “Project 365,” a year-round nationwide campaign focused on screening, diagnosing, and treating hepatitis. The initiative aims to eliminate Hepatitis C and halt the transmission of Hepatitis B by 2030.
The government also plans to increase budgetary allocations for hepatitis programs, establish a Viral Elimination Fund (VEF), and introduce tax incentives to boost local production of hepatitis medications.
WHO Commends Nigeria’s Efforts
Speaking at the event, Dr. Alex Gasasira, Acting Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), represented by Dr. Mya Ngon, called on Nigeria to take bold steps to combat hepatitis.
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“In the WHO African Region, over 70 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B or C, but fewer than one in ten receive a diagnosis or treatment,” Gasasira noted. He added that Nigeria ranks third globally in hepatitis prevalence, with 325,000 new infections recorded in 2022 alone.
He applauded Nigeria’s triple elimination initiative, which targets mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis, and other STIs, and praised efforts to reduce treatment costs and promote nationwide screening.
Gasasira urged for hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination within 24 hours of birth, integration of hepatitis care into primary health services, and measures to combat stigma and misinformation.
“We have the knowledge and tools. What we need now is the will. Together, we can break hepatitis down and build a future where it no longer defines lives,” he said.
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Community-Led Action
Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, National Coordinator of the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), reiterated the government’s commitment to combating hepatitis through community mobilisation under “Project 365.”
“We are collaborating with the National Assembly to reach every constituency and with the National Transportation Agency to spread accurate information about hepatitis B and C,” he said.
Bashorun emphasised that hepatitis B is preventable through vaccination, while hepatitis C is curable with treatment. He stressed the importance of early testing, especially for adults above 21 who haven’t been vaccinated.
Looking Ahead
He warned that failing to vaccinate or treat infected individuals could lead to increased transmission and more cases in the future.
“If we don’t find and treat those who are positive or prevent new infections, the situation will only get worse,” he said.
As Nigeria battles one of the highest burdens of hepatitis in the world, officials and international partners agree: the time to act is now.
Content Credit: Ohidah Oluwaferanmi
Image Credit: Punch Newspaper.com
