Korede Abdullah 
ILORIN, Nigeria – The Kwara State Government has launched a comprehensive Viral Hepatitis Elimination Roadmap aimed at eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, in line with global health targets.
Speaking during the inauguration in Ilorin on Monday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, described the initiative as a significant milestone in the state’s commitment to preventive healthcare and universal health coverage.
She warned that viral hepatitis remains a major but often overlooked health challenge.
“Viral hepatitis remains a silent killer in our communities,” she said.
El-Imam noted that Nigeria accounts for approximately 15 per cent of the global burden of Hepatitis B, with an estimated 20 million Nigerians living with chronic Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infections.
According to her, the roadmap aligns with the World Health Organisation (WHO) target of diagnosing 90 per cent of people living with viral hepatitis and treating 80 per cent of those eligible by 2030.
As part of the implementation strategy, the state plans to significantly expand Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination, while integrating hepatitis screening, diagnosis and treatment into primary healthcare centres, maternal and child health services, and HIV and tuberculosis clinics.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Abdullahi Taoheed, called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to intensify public awareness campaigns and encourage residents to undergo early testing.
Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Abdulfatai Olokooba, expressed confidence that consistent implementation of the roadmap would significantly reduce the burden of the disease across the state.
Programme Coordinator, AbdulRasheed Muhammad, explained that Hepatitis B often progresses without symptoms and can be transmitted through unscreened blood transfusions, unprotected sexual contact, shared needles and contaminated personal items.
He urged residents to embrace regular screening, vaccination and early treatment to reduce transmission and improve health outcomes.
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