By Ono Yima
Medical experts have raised alarm over Nigeria’s staggering hepatitis burden, with an estimated 20 million people — about 10 percent of the population — believed to be carriers of the virus. Hepatitis B and C, which are the most prevalent forms, are particularly widespread in Northern Nigeria and are among the leading causes of liver cancer in the country.
At an outreach marking the 2025 World Hepatitis Day in Abuja, Dr. Idile Justice, a gastroenterologist at Garki Hospital, warned that while the disease can be managed, it could be deadly if undetected and untreated. “Over 60 percent of liver diseases and liver cancers are caused by hepatitis B and C,” he said, stressing the need for early testing and vaccination.
He noted that the viruses are primarily transmitted through blood transfusions and the use of sharp objects such as razors, needles, and tattoo instruments, particularly when they are unsterilized. “Hepatitis B and C can survive on surfaces and instruments for long periods. Without proper sterilization, they can easily be passed on,” Dr. Justice cautioned.
The Medical Director of Nisa Garki Hospital, Dr. Kenneth Ityo, said the hospital’s outreach — organised in collaboration with the Lehi Foundation — aims to create awareness and offer free testing and vaccination in Abuja’s Garki Village and surrounding communities.
“Hepatitis is deadlier than many other diseases yet does not get the attention it deserves,” Dr. Ityo said. “Our intervention is free, and we are testing and vaccinating to prevent cases from developing into chronic liver disease or vascular cancer. Prevention starts with vaccination; the next step is early diagnosis.”
Several beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the initiative, saying it would help them know their status and take timely preventive measures.
Globally, World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28 to raise awareness and support for those affected. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 70 million people in Africa are living with chronic hepatitis B or C, but fewer than one in ten have been diagnosed or treated.
The numbers are a stark reminder that hepatitis is a silent epidemic in Nigeria, thriving in the shadows of more visible health crises. Unlike outbreaks that dominate headlines, hepatitis spreads quietly, often undetected until irreversible liver damage occurs. Public health strategies must move beyond symbolic awareness events to sustained, nationwide vaccination campaigns and accessible testing, especially in rural communities where the disease’s grip is strongest.
If Nigeria is to reduce its hepatitis burden, government agencies, health institutions, and private organisations must treat it with the urgency reserved for diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria. Anything less risks allowing millions to live — and die — without ever knowing they were infected.