Stakeholders Urge Expanded Hepatitis Response in Nigeria

Stakeholders convened in Jalingo, Taraba State, to discuss the urgent need for an expanded response to hepatitis B and C, aiming to meet the World Health Organization's 2030 elimination targets. The meeting, organized by the Centre for Infectious Diseases (CFID), highlighted the necessity of improving treatment access and increasing vaccination coverage for hepatitis B.

The Taraba State Ministry of Health commended CFID for its public health interventions and called for continued collaboration to strengthen hepatitis response efforts. Dr.

Danjuma Adda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of CFID, reported that 237 million people live with hepatitis B globally, with significant mortality rates linked to the disease. The meeting underscored the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to reduce transmission and complications.

Additionally, the Nigerian Medical Association's Taraba State chapter advocated for wider dissemination of updated global hepatitis reports to enhance clinical responses and management of the disease.