The Plateau State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat, with the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, declaring that the Mutfwang administration is intensifying efforts to expand access to hepatitis screening, vaccination and treatment across the state.
Speaking on Tuesday during the commemoration of World Hepatitis Day 2026 at Crispan Hotel, Jos, Dr. Ba’amlong said the government remains determined to ensure that no resident is left behind in the fight against the disease through sustained awareness campaigns, improved healthcare services and strategic partnerships.
The event, themed “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” brought together health professionals, development partners, civil society organisations, government agencies and community stakeholders to advocate for increased public awareness, early diagnosis, timely treatment and the elimination of stigma surrounding viral hepatitis.
Addressing participants, the Commissioner described viral hepatitis as one of the most pressing public health challenges facing Plateau State despite being largely preventable and treatable.
“WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR PEOPLE TO GO AND GET TESTED SO THAT WHEN YOU ARE TESTED POSITIVE, WE’LL KNOW WHERE TO APPROPRIATELY REFER YOU, AND IF YOU ARE NEGATIVE, WE’LL GIVE YOU THE VACCINE,” DR. BA’AMLONG STATED.
As part of activities marking the global observance, he disclosed that the Ministry of Health established three hepatitis testing sites across Jos North and Jos South, while revealing that the initiative would soon be expanded to all 17 Local Government Areas to ensure wider access to screening services.
The Commissioner explained that hepatitis B vaccines for infants remain available free of charge through routine immunisation programmes, adding that the state government is working closely with development partners to make adult vaccination more affordable for residents.
Dr. Ba’amlong further noted that the administration of Governor Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang is strengthening Plateau’s hepatitis control strategy through aggressive public education campaigns, expanded vaccination coverage, improved referral systems and stronger collaboration with tertiary health institutions to enhance laboratory diagnosis and disease surveillance.
According to him, the government’s vision aligns with the global target of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, stressing that building a healthier population remains central to Governor Mutfwang’s broader development agenda.
Delivering the keynote medical presentation, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Duguru Mary John, described hepatitis as a “silent killer” responsible for liver cirrhosis and liver cancer when left untreated.
She disclosed that hepatitis B remains highly prevalent in Nigeria and Plateau State, with many infected persons unaware of their status because the disease often presents no symptoms in its early stages. She therefore urged residents to embrace regular screening, vaccination, safe blood transfusion practices and the avoidance of sharing sharp objects to reduce transmission.
Also speaking, the Plateau State HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme Coordinator, Mrs. Mariah Pawa, described World Hepatitis Day as an opportunity to educate the public on a disease that silently affects thousands of people.
She highlighted several interventions already implemented by the state government, including routine screening of pregnant women, hepatitis B vaccination for newborns and expanded community screening and referral services.
Pawa further disclosed that the Mutfwang administration has supported the procurement of dual test kits, significantly improving access to hepatitis testing in health facilities and communities across Plateau State.
In separate goodwill messages, the World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator, Dr. Mahdi Musa, reaffirmed WHO’s continued support for Plateau State’s hepatitis response, urging stakeholders to dismantle barriers preventing access to testing, vaccination and treatment.
Similarly, Dr. Solomon Wekpe, Head of Office, APIN Public Health Initiatives, Plateau State, pledged sustained technical and financial support towards strengthening hepatitis prevention and treatment programmes in the state.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ajik Magaji, encouraged residents to take advantage of free hepatitis vaccines available at health facilities while embracing early testing as a critical step in disease prevention.
In his closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Plateau State Ministry of Health, Mr. Bitrus Hosea, commended stakeholders and development partners for their commitment to improving public health and urged residents to utilise the available screening services to protect themselves, their families and their communities.
The event concluded with a renewed resolve among government, health professionals, development partners and civil society organisations to work collectively toward eliminating viral hepatitis through sustained awareness, expanded testing, increased vaccination coverage and improved access to treatment.
The 2026 World Hepatitis Day celebration once again underscored the Plateau State Government’s growing investment in preventive healthcare, reinforcing the Mutfwang administration’s commitment to building a resilient healthcare system capable of delivering quality and accessible healthcare services to every resident of the state.
