Lagos Rolls Out Statewide Free Hepatitis B and C Screening and Vaccination

The Lagos State Government has commenced a large-scale hepatitis prevention initiative offering free screening and vaccination for Hepatitis B and C across all 57 local government and council development areas.

This initiative targets key population groups, including pregnant women and healthcare professionals, in a bid to reduce the prevalence of the disease and align with the global goal of eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

At a media briefing in Alausa-Ikeja, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, described hepatitis as a silent and deadly disease that often remains undiagnosed until it progresses to liver failure. He cited data indicating that over 16 million Nigerians are living with Hepatitis B and more than 2 million with Hepatitis C, with Lagos accounting for a large share of the cases.

Residents can now access free hepatitis screening and vaccinations at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), general hospitals, and select primary healthcare centers. Screening has also been integrated into antenatal services to prevent mother-to-child transmission, while routine hepatitis B vaccination continues under the state’s immunization program.

Professor Abayomi added that more than 400 healthcare workers have been trained to support diagnosis and treatment, and that public hospitals have adopted stricter blood screening and infection control procedures. These efforts are part of a broader strategy under Nigeria’s “365 Days to Break Down Hepatitis” campaign, which promotes continuous public awareness and year-round intervention.

He called on residents to participate actively, noting that eliminating hepatitis would require a collective and sustained effort.