Nigeria among countries with highest hepatitis deaths – WHO report

AkoniTV April 29, 2026 Health Leave a comment 29 Views

The World Health Organization has identified Nigeria as one of the countries contributing significantly to global hepatitis-related deaths, raising concerns over the disease burden.

In its 2026 Global Hepatitis Report, the WHO said hepatitis B and C caused about 1.34 million deaths worldwide in 2024, with nearly 1.8 million new infections recorded annually.

Nigeria was listed among 10 countries responsible for 69 per cent of global hepatitis B deaths, and also featured among nations with high hepatitis C mortality rates.

The report estimated that 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis infections globally, while access to treatment remains low, especially for hepatitis B.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said although progress has been made, efforts to eliminate hepatitis remain slow and uneven.

He called for urgent expansion of vaccination, testing and treatment to meet global elimination targets by 2030.

The WHO added that Africa continues to face major challenges, including low vaccination coverage and limited access to care, despite available treatment options.