The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Nigeria and nine
other countries accounted for the majority of global hepatitis deaths in 2024.
The WHO, in its 2026 global hepatitis report released at the
World Hepatitis Summit, said hepatitis B and C, responsible for 95 percent of
hepatitis-related deaths, killed 1.34 million people in 2024, while new
infections stood at about 1.8 million annually.
The organisation said 10 countries, including Bangladesh,
China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, South
Africa and Vietnam, were responsible for 69 percent of hepatitis B-related
deaths globally.
Nigeria also featured among 10 countries accounting for 58
percent of hepatitis C-related deaths.
The other countries are China, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, the United States and Vietnam.
The report estimates that 287 million people were living
with chronic hepatitis B or C infections in 2024.
“That year, 0.9 million people were newly infected with
hepatitis B. The WHO African Region accounted for 68% of new hepatitis B
infections, yet only 17% of newborns in the region received the hepatitis B
birth-dose vaccination,” the report reads
“A further 0.9 million hepatitis C infections were recorded
in 2024.
“People who inject drugs accounted for 44% of new
infections, highlighting the urgent need for stronger harm reduction services
and safe injection practices.”
The report said despite these figures, global efforts to
combat viral hepatitis are beginning to yield measurable results.
According to the report, new hepatitis B infections have
dropped by 32 percent since 2015, while deaths linked to hepatitis C have
declined by 12 percent.
Prevalence of hepatitis B among children under five has also
fallen to 0.6 percent, with 85 countries meeting or surpassing the 2030 target.
The WHO said the gains reflect sustained global and national
action since member states adopted hepatitis elimination targets in 2016.
However, it warned that progress remains too slow and uneven
to meet the 2030 goals.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said around the
world, countries are showing that eliminating hepatitis is not a pipedream.
“At the same time, progress is too slow and uneven, and many
people remain undiagnosed and untreated,” he said.
The organisation highlighted examples from countries such as
Egypt, Rwanda and the United Kingdom as proof that eliminating hepatitis is
achievable with sustained political commitment and investment.
It called on governments to accelerate efforts by scaling up
vaccination, expanding access to testing and treatment, improving injection
safety, and integrating hepatitis services into primary healthcare systems.
By
TheTimes Nigeria
