FG Launches Project 365 to Tackle Hepatitis

The Federal Government has launched a nationwide initiative, Project 365, aimed at eliminating Hepatitis C and halting the transmission of Hepatitis B across the country by 2030.

Speaking at a ministerial briefing in Abuja, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, disclosed that over 20 million people are currently living with Hepatitis B and C, while over 90 percent of infected persons remain undiagnosed despite the availability of vaccines.

Professor Pate, who was represented by the Director of Public Health at the ministry, Dr Godwin Ntadom, mentioned that 4,252 annual deaths from liver cancer were linked to untreated hepatitis. He also expressed concern that treatment costs had resulted in an estimated economic loss of between ₦13.3 trillion and ₦17.9 trillion annually.

“We are also laying the groundwork for sustainable local pharmaceutical manufacturing through increased budgetary support for hepatitis programmes, the establishment of the Viral Elimination Fund (VEF), tax incentives and regulatory reforms to support domestic production, and legislative backing for expanded diagnostics and treatment,” he said.

The National Coordinator of the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Dr Adebobola Bashorun, stressed the need for advocacy and a community mobilisation approach to raise awareness about Hepatitis B and C, which are primarily transmitted through infected body fluids, blood contact, and unprotected sex.

Dr Bashorun advised Nigerians who are above 21 years old and missed the hepatitis B vaccination at birth to get tested and vaccinated if negative.

“For those who are infected, there is a curable treatment for Hepatitis C. For Hepatitis B, there is no cure, but there are drugs that can slow the progression of chronic Hepatitis B infection after proper testing to determine whether it is an acute or long-term chronic infection,” he said.

On his part, Adeyeye Ajayi, who represented the Presidential Ambassador on Viral Hepatitis Control and Elimination in Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon, lauded the efforts of the ministry, stakeholders, and partners for their dedication to fighting hepatitis in the country.

International partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and CHAI, also commended the Federal Government for integrating hepatitis control into existing public health programmes, including HIV/AIDS and maternal and child healthcare.

The theme for the 2025 Hepatitis Day is “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”. It calls for demystifying the disease, dismantling stigma, and ensuring access to prevention, care, and treatment.