By NANCY MAJEKODUNMI
The Plateau State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat, urging residents to embrace screening, vaccination and early treatment.
Speaking during the 2026 World Hepatitis Day commemoration in Jos on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, said the theme of this year’s event, ‘Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down‘, highlights the need to remove barriers such as low awareness, stigma, misinformation and delayed diagnosis.
Ba’amlong described hepatitis as a preventable and treatable disease, stressing that behind every statistic is a human life, including mothers, fathers, breadwinners and children.
“Behind every statistic is a human life, a mother, father, breadwinner or child. No family should lose a loved one to a disease that can be prevented, detected early and effectively managed,” he said.
He urged residents to take advantage of free screening services, noting that those who test negative for hepatitis B should receive vaccination, while those who test positive should seek immediate medical attention.
“The greatest danger with hepatitis is that many infected persons show no symptoms until severe liver damage has occurred. Knowing your status is your power,” he added.
The keynote speaker, Dr Duguru John, an Associate Professor and Consultant Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), emphasised the importance of regular screening and hepatitis B vaccination in reducing infections and preventing complications.
She acknowledged that effective treatment for hepatitis is available but noted that the high cost of accessing such treatment remains a challenge, calling for stronger collaboration to improve availability.
“I encourage all our partners and the general public to break the barriers that prevent people from accessing hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment services,” she said.
The event featured free hepatitis screening and goodwill messages from development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), APIN Public Health Initiatives and other civil society organisations.
The partners pledged continued support for Plateau State’s efforts towards eliminating hepatitis.