Medical experts have called on governments at all levels to show greater commitment to the fight against viral hepatitis as Nigeria marks the 2026 World Hepatitis Day.
Speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa, health professionals stressed the need for stronger policies, increased public awareness and better access to testing and treatment for people living with hepatitis B and C.
This year’s theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” highlights the need to remove the barriers preventing people from getting life-saving healthcare services.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by viral infections such as hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. It can also result from excessive alcohol use, certain medications, toxins and autoimmune diseases.
Doctors say common symptoms include yellowing of the eyes and skin, fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, dark urine and pale-coloured stool. However, many infected people may not show symptoms until the disease has caused serious damage.
Health experts noted that millions of people around the world continue to live with chronic hepatitis B and C, while many others die from complications linked to the disease each year. They also expressed concern over low vaccination rates for newborns and poor public awareness, which continue to slow efforts to eliminate the disease.
A Senior Medical Officer with the Bayelsa State Hospitals Management Board at Azikoro Comprehensive Health Centre, Dr. Ayebatari Agiri, said prevention, early detection, public education and sustained government support remain the most effective ways to reduce the burden of hepatitis.
Also speaking, a gastroenterologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Dr. Wolo Wolo, urged the government to introduce policies that would make antiviral drugs more affordable, warning that failure to act could lead to more cases of severe liver disease and liver cancer.
World Hepatitis Day is observed every July 28 to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and encourage actions that will reduce infections and save lives.
