The World Health Organization has listed Nigeria among countries contributing significantly to global hepatitis-related deaths, as concerns persist over the disease’s impact worldwide.
In a report released Tuesday, the agency said hepatitis B and C remain the leading causes of hepatitis-related deaths, accounting for about 95 per cent of cases. In 2024 alone, the diseases caused 1.34 million deaths, with an estimated 1.8 million new infections recorded globally.
The WHO said, “Ten countries – Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa and Viet Nam – accounted for 69% of hepatitis B-related deaths worldwide in 2024.”
It added that hepatitis C deaths are more widespread, noting that “In 2024, ten countries accounted for 58% of the global total: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, South Africa, the United States of America and Viet Nam.”
While progress has been recorded since 2015, including declines in infections and deaths, the WHO warned that efforts remain uneven and insufficient to meet global targets.
“Around the world, countries are showing that eliminating hepatitis is not a pipedream; it’s possible with sustained political commitment, backed by reliable domestic financing.
“At the same time, this report shows that progress is too slow and uneven. Many people remain undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems and inequitable access to care.
“While we have the tools to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat, urgent scale-up of prevention, diagnosis and treatment is needed if the world is to meet the 2030 targets,” he added.
