Kano State commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, has asserted that 1.2 million people in the state are living with Hepatitis virus.
He restated the state government’s commitment to the elimination of the viral disease by 2030 in alignment with the global set targets.
Labaran spoke yesterday during a press briefing to mark the 2025 World Hepatitis Day (WHD) which has the theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s Break it Down.”
According to him, Hepatitis B and C constitute significant health challenges in Nigeria and Kano State with the country’s prevalences rate at eight percent and the state at six percent.
He explained that, these diseases, though preventable and treatable, often go undetected, leading to straining healthcare budgets, avoidable deaths from liver cancer and cirrhosis, which is significantly impacting the quality of life.
He added that the disease is preventable through vaccination, good medical practices, blood screening, and safe sexual practice.
“In response, the ministry has prioritized an integrated, person-centred approach to hepatitis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment-particularly among pregnant women and other high-burden populations.
“In February 2025, we launched a groundbreaking intervention titled:’HepFree Mothers, Healthy Babies’ (HepFree Uwadajariri’) – a public health pilot programme focused on eliminating mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B through early screening and treatment,” he stated.
The commissioner also noted that the state has commenced the triple elimination effort on HIV, hepatitis and syphilis among pregnant women and children to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the disease with a current approval of N95 million for the procurement of test kits and the drug Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF), for those who tested positive
While urging the citizens to go for medical test to be aware of their status to stop the spread, he also reiterated government commitment to improving access to viral hepatitis services across the state.
