Concerned stakeholders in Taraba State have called on the government at all levels to increase funding for viral hepatitis programs, urging authorities to allocate resources comparable to those provided for HIV/AIDS interventions.
The appeal was made during a project startup meeting organized by the Centre for Initiative and Development (CFID) in Jalingo, the state capital. The meeting focused on enhancing access to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, and routine Hepatitis C testing among pregnant women and women of childbearing age.
The gathering brought together key organizations, including the Nigerian Council of Women Societies (NCWS), the Federation of Muslim Women (FOMWAN), the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and Traditional Birth Attendants. Also in attendance were representatives from the Taraba State House of Assembly Committee on Health, the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency (TSPHCDA), and the State AIDS and STIs Control Program (SASCP).
Stakeholders expressed concern over the lack of government support for hepatitis programs, describing the disease as an “orphan disease” due to inadequate funding. They urged both federal and state governments to provide financial backing for prevention, testing, and treatment, similar to the sustained investment in HIV/AIDS programs.
While commending CFID for offering free hepatitis testing and treatment, participants emphasized the need for long-term government involvement. Representatives from FOMWAN, NCWS, WOWICAN, and the Ministry of Women and Child Development pledged to mobilize women in five benefiting local government areas to access free screening services. They also called for hepatitis medications and test kits to be provided at no cost, mirroring the provisions available for HIV patients.
Speaking at the event, CFID’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Danjuma Adda, highlighted the high prevalence of viral hepatitis in Taraba and across Nigeria, stressing the urgency of intervention. He announced that under the new project, all pregnant women attending antenatal care would receive free Hepatitis B screening.
“Pregnant women who test positive for Hepatitis B will be placed on prophylaxis from the 24th week of pregnancy until their baby receives the final pentavalent vaccine,” Dr. Adda stated.
Additionally, he revealed that free hepatitis testing would be extended to the spouses of pregnant women, while measures have been put in place to ensure that all newborns—whether delivered in health facilities or at home—receive the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine within 24 hours of birth.
To further strengthen maternal and child healthcare, CFID will train health workers in participating facilities to improve the management of viral hepatitis.
Stakeholders stressed that increased government funding for hepatitis programs would significantly improve public health outcomes in Taraba State and Nigeria as a whole.