The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm that millions of people across Africa still lack access to timely diagnosis, treatment and care for viral hepatitis, despite the disease being largely preventable and, in many cases, treatable.
In a message to mark World Hepatitis Day 2026, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said no one should die from a disease that can be prevented, diagnosed and treated, yet hepatitis continues to claim many lives in the region.
Janabi noted that although new hepatitis B infections declined by 25 per cent between 2015 and 2024, progress remains uneven, with many people still undiagnosed and untreated.
He called on governments, partners, health workers and communities to dismantle barriers limiting access to lifesaving hepatitis services, stressing that elimination of the disease as a public health threat is achievable.
“We already have the tools,” he said, highlighting the hepatitis B vaccine, which provides up to 95 per cent protection, alongside reliable diagnostics and effective treatments for hepatitis B and curative therapies for hepatitis C.
The WHO regional chief emphasised that the challenge is no longer scientific but lies in mobilising political will, increasing investment and ensuring equitable access to services.
He urged countries to strengthen primary health care systems to bring hepatitis services closer to communities, noting that this would not only save lives but also reduce long-term health burdens and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage.
Janabi also pointed to progress in the African region, including the expansion of hepatitis B birth dose vaccination, advances in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, and efforts toward hepatitis C elimination.
However, he warned that many people still live with the virus unknowingly due to delayed diagnosis, poor awareness, stigma and limited access to testing and treatment, particularly in underserved communities.
To close these gaps, he advocated integrating hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment into routine health care across all stages of life, while sustaining investment in research and innovation.
He further called on Member States to scale up national hepatitis programmes, expand access to vaccination and treatment, and place communities at the centre of response efforts.
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The WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting African countries in strengthening health systems and expanding equitable access to hepatitis services, urging sustained technical and financial support from global partners.
“Together, we can prevent new infections, save lives and ensure that viral hepatitis is no longer a barrier to healthier lives for the people of Africa,” Janabi said.
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