By SCM Staff Writer I Friday, Oct 24, 2025
AWKA, Anambra – The First Lady of Anambra State, Dr. (Mrs.) Nonye Soludo, has expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in cases of Hepatitis B and C across Nigeria.
She called for urgent, coordinated action to curb the continued spread of the diseases, which she described as a major public health challenge.
Dr. Soludo, who is also the founder of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo initiative, cited recent data indicating that an estimated 20 million Nigerians are currently infected with either Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or both.
In a statement issued on Friday and made available to journalists in Awka, the First Lady made this call during the 2025 National Hepatitis Summit held in Abuja.
She lamented that over 80 percent of infected persons are unaware of their status, adding that a vast majority of Nigerians know very little or absolutely nothing about hepatitis and its potentially devastating consequences.
Dr. Soludo commended her fellow First Ladies across the country for their shared commitment to improving public health outcomes.
She noted that during the summit, she engaged with medical experts and policymakers, gaining valuable insights on practical strategies that can be adopted by states to strengthen the fight against Hepatitis B and C.
According to her, “The central message of our discussions is that although Nigeria is still far behind in the campaign against hepatitis, we can make meaningful progress if we start taking deliberate and coordinated steps now.”
Dr. Soludo reaffirmed her commitment to advancing health awareness and preventive healthcare through her Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo platform, emphasizing that early testing, vaccination, and public education remain crucial in eliminating Hepatitis B and C in Nigeria.
The statement reads:
Like most ailments, Hepatitis B can be treated if detected early enough. Hepatitis C, too, can be treated with antiviral medicines but only if discovered as early as possible. The good news is that hepatitis B vaccination is included as part of routine vaccination for children in Nigeria. Adults, too, can get vaccinated at any good health facility. The vaccines are not just safe but very effective.*
*The fast-rising counts of Hepatitis B and C prevalence in Nigeria call for all-time urgency of action. To date, available figures show that an estimated 20 million people are infected by either of the diseases or both, with over 80% of these people not even aware of their status. The truth is that we got to this ugly side because a large majority of our people know a little or absolutely nothing about Hepatitis and its dreadfulness.*
*So today at the 2025 National Hepatitis Summit in Abuja, I joined First Ladies from across the country and shared the platform with experts in the field and took away vital points on what we can do as important stakeholders to strengthen the fight against Hepatitis B and C starting from our respective states. At the centre of conversation is the understanding that even though we’re far behind in the journey, we can still make a satisfactory headway if we begin now.*
*Like most ailments, Hepatitis B can be treated if detected early enough. Hepatitis C, too, can be treated with antiviral medicines but only if discovered as early as possible. The good news is that hepatitis B vaccination is included as part of routine vaccination for children in Nigeria. Adults, too, can get vaccinated at any good health facility. The vaccines are not just safe but very effective.*
*The numbers are scary. Yes. But if we don’t show adequate commitment to the campaign through education and strategic dialogues, we’d be dealing with a bigger problem in the soonest future. The time is now to push back the ravage of Hepatitis in Anambra State and Nigeria”.
