The Kwara State Government has launched a new roadmap aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat in the state by 2030.
The Viral Hepatitis Elimination Roadmap, themed “Let’s Break It Down,” was unveiled in Ilorin as part of efforts to strengthen prevention, testing, treatment, surveillance and public awareness of the disease.
Speaking at the launch, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, described the initiative as an important step towards improving preventive healthcare and advancing Universal Health Coverage in Kwara State.
El-Imam said viral hepatitis remains a major but often undetected health challenge, noting that millions of Nigerians are living with chronic Hepatitis B or C infections.
She warned that many residents may be unaware of their status, leaving them vulnerable to serious complications including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
According to the commissioner, the new roadmap is designed as a strategic blueprint for ending viral hepatitis as a public health threat in Kwara by 2030, in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) elimination targets.
The global targets include diagnosing 90 per cent of people living with viral hepatitis and ensuring that 80 per cent of those eligible for treatment receive appropriate care.
Kwara to Expand Hepatitis Testing and Treatment
El-Imam said the state government would intensify screening programmes to establish the prevalence of viral hepatitis and ensure that people who test positive are linked to appropriate treatment and care.
She also identified increased coverage of the Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine as a key priority, particularly in preventing mother-to-child transmission.
The commissioner disclosed that hepatitis screening and treatment would be integrated into existing Primary Health Care centres, Maternal and Child Health services, and HIV/TB clinics.
Services will also be decentralised through PHCs and general hospitals across the state to improve access for residents.
The roadmap will further strengthen surveillance systems to track hepatitis infections, treatment outcomes and disease trends.
“This will ensure that our decisions are driven by data rather than assumptions,” El-Imam said.
Stakeholders Call for Increased Awareness
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Taoheed Abdullahi, described viral hepatitis as a significant health concern and urged traditional, religious and community leaders to intensify awareness and encourage residents to undergo early testing.
The Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Prof Abdulfatai Olokooba, said the roadmap was developed using available data and aligned with the WHO template.
He said effective implementation would focus on treatment, surveillance, data management and capacity building for healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, the Programme Coordinator of the HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and Other STIs Control Unit, Dr Rasheed Muhammad, described hepatitis as a major health challenge caused by inflammation of the liver.
He stressed the importance of testing, prevention and early treatment, noting that Hepatitis B can be transmitted through infected blood, sexual contact, shared needles and contaminated materials.
The Kwara State Government said the launch represents a renewed commitment to preventing viral hepatitis, improving early detection and expanding access to treatment, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the disease as a public health threat by 2030.
