The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, says an estimated 1.2 million residents are currently living with Hepatitis B, highlighting a growing public health concern in the state.
Labaran made this known during a press briefing held on Monday in Kano, to commemorate the 2025 World Hepatitis Day.
Citing preliminary data, the commissioner noted that Hepatitis B prevalence in the state stands at over 6%, a figure consistent with national statistics.
“Hepatitis B and C remain significant public health challenges across Nigeria. Current data show that over 6% of Kano’s population is affected by Hepatitis B, translating to approximately 1.2 million people,” he stated.
Labaran expressed concern that despite being preventable and treatable, the virus often goes undetected until it leads to serious complications, including liver cancer and cirrhosis.
He said the state government is scaling up interventions through early diagnosis, access to treatment, and the integration of services into routine healthcare delivery. He emphasised a person-centred approach, particularly targeting pregnant women and other high-risk groups.
As part of the state’s efforts, Labaran recalled the February launch of a pilot programme titled “HepFree Mothers, Healthy Babies (HepFree Uwadajariri),” designed to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of Hepatitis B through early screening and treatment.
“This initiative aligns with the Triple Elimination Effort (TEE), which simultaneously targets HIV, Hepatitis, and Syphilis among pregnant women attending antenatal care,” he explained.
According to Labaran, Kano is the first state in Nigeria to fully implement and assume ownership of the Triple Elimination process.
He revealed that the state government had released ₦95 million for the procurement of test kits and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF), a drug provided free of charge to pregnant women who test positive from 32 weeks of gestation until delivery.
In addition, immunisation officers have been deployed to labour wards across the state to administer the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine—also free—immediately after birth.
Labaran also disclosed that a request for ₦135 million is awaiting approval to fund additional resources aimed at strengthening the fight against MTCT of Hepatitis B.
He noted that mother-to-child transmission accounts for 70–80% of all Hepatitis B cases in the state.
Calling for support, the commissioner appealed to development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector to join the state’s efforts through funding, awareness campaigns, and strategic collaborations.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to achieving the World Health Organization’s target of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
