World Hepatitis Day: FG Launches Project 365, to Eliminate Virus by 2030<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Federal Government has launched a nationwide hepatitis elimination campaign tagged \u201cProject 365\u201d to tackle the country\u2019s overwhelming hepatitis B and C burden and ensure its elimination by 2030.<\/p>\n
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced the initiative during a ministerial press briefing held Monday, at its office in Abuja,\u00a0 to commemorate the 2025 World Hepatitis Day, themed \u201cHepatitis: Let\u2019s Break It Down\u201d<\/p>\n
In his keynote address, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, revealed that over 20 million Nigerians are currently living with hepatitis B and C infections, (18.2 million with hepatitis B and 2.5 million with hepatitis C).<\/p>\n
Represented by the Director, Public Health Department, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, the Minister said: \u201cOver 90% of those infected remain undiagnosed and unknowingly transmit the virus, which is often mistaken for malaria. This contributes to a staggering 4,252 annual deaths from liver cancer and results in economic losses estimated between \u20a613.3 trillion and \u20a617.9 trillion annually,\u201d<\/p>\n
He warned that the disease, though preventable and treatable, continues to silently ravage communities due to low awareness, stigma, and limited access to testing and treatment, a statement by the Ministry’s Head, Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun disclosed<\/p>\n
Announcing the bold and transformative steps initiated for implementation by the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare;
\nProf. Pate unveiled Project 365, a year-round national program to boost screening, diagnosis, vaccination, and treatment, particularly in rural and underserved communities.<\/p>\n
The project will operate alongside ongoing efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs, through integrated public health systems.<\/p>\n
In driving Systemic Change to support the hepatitis elimination agenda, Professor Pate also announced structural reforms and financial commitments, including:<\/p>\n
The establishment of a Viral Elimination Fund (VEF), increased budgetary support for hepatitis programming, Tax incentives and regulatory reforms to encourage local vaccine and drug manufacturing, Legislative support for expanding diagnostic and treatment services.
\n\u201cThese steps are crucial to make hepatitis medications more affordable and accessible while laying the groundwork for sustainable local pharmaceutical manufacturing\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
The Minister passionately noted, \u201cNigeria can no longer bear the label of having the third-highest hepatitis burden globally. We have the science, the strategy, and now the will. We will act boldly and with urgency, for a Nigeria free from the burden of viral hepatitis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking on awareness and sensitization, the Director and National Coordinator of the National AIDS\/HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Dr. Adebobola Bashorun said the campaign will use community-led approaches, including:<\/p>\n
Mass testing across communities
\nVaccination for hepatitis B-negative individuals
\nTreatment rollout for hepatitis C cases
\nAdvocacy on prevention methods like safe sex and hygiene
\nPartnerships with state governments, media, and religious leaders<\/p>\n
Dr. Bashorun emphasized the need for adults above 21, who may have missed vaccination under Nigeria\u2019s 2004 hepatitis B birth-dose policy, to get tested and vaccinated if negative.<\/p>\n
He highlighted that the theme is a call for breaking social and structural barriers to lifesaving services with implementation of a national framework aligned with SDG 3 and the Global Health Sector Strategy on Hepatitis.<\/p>\n
The representative of the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Adaugo Ngwu pledged that NOA will partner with the Ministry and civil society organisations to take the hepatitis message to the grassroots.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the citizen engagement arm of the government, we are mandated to enlighten the people. We will support this effort by ensuring people understand the importance of testing, vaccination, and treatment,\u201d she asserted.<\/p>\n
International development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Chai, expressed strong support for Nigeria\u2019s renewed commitment.<\/p>\n
With Project 365, Nigeria signals its intent to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat, ensuring that access to care, protection, and dignity is not a privilege but a right for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
World Hepatitis Day: FG Launches Project 365, to Eliminate Virus by 2030 The Federal Government has launched a nationwide hepatitis elimination campaign tagged \u201cProject 365\u201d to tackle the country\u2019s overwhelming hepatitis B and C burden and ensure its elimination by 2030. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced the initiative during a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":147417,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[356,18,20],"tags":[1367,1871,1870],"class_list":{"0":"post-147411","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"category-news","9":"category-the-nation","10":"tag-health-ministry","11":"tag-hepatitis-b-and-c","12":"tag-project-365"},"yoast_head":"\n