World Hepatitis Day 2026 • 28 July
Theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”
Every year on 28 July, the world marks Hepatitis Day to spotlight a disease that quietly affects over 300 million people globally, and millions of Nigerian women, mothers, and children. Viral hepatitis, especially Hepatitis B and C, remains one of the most under-diagnosed threats to public health in Nigeria. This year’s theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” is a call to remove the barriers that prevent people from accessing prevention, testing, treatment, and care. Although effective vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment already exist, millions of people remain undiagnosed or untreated because of stigma, limited awareness, and inequitable access to healthcare.
Why This Matters to Our Work
At ACIOE Foundation, this message strongly aligns with our commitment to strengthening health systems, advancing maternal and reproductive health, promoting health equity, and ensuring that no one is left behind. Through our work in maternal health advocacy, health financing, digital health, and disability inclusion, we recognize that hepatitis is not only a liver disease; it is also a maternal and child health issue.
Mother-to-child transmission is one of the leading ways Hepatitis B spreads in Nigeria, often during pregnancy or delivery, when a mother is unaware of her status. Routine antenatal Hepatitis B screening is not yet universal across primary health facilities, leaving many mothers undiagnosed until complications arise. A timely birth-dose vaccine for newborns can prevent transmission almost entirely, yet awareness of this window remains low among new mothers and even some health workers. Women living with hepatitis often face added stigma, silence, and exclusion from family planning and reproductive health conversations.
Hepatitis B can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth if appropriate preventive measures are not taken. Routine antenatal screening, timely treatment where needed, and administering the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns within the first 24 hours of life are among the most effective ways to prevent transmission and protect future generations. Integrating hepatitis services into maternal and child healthcare is therefore essential to improving health outcomes for mothers and babies.
Breaking down barriers also means breaking the silence surrounding hepatitis. We can all play a role by encouraging regular testing, promoting vaccination, challenging stigma, supporting people living with hepatitis, and advocating for equitable access to quality healthcare. Communities, policymakers, healthcare providers, and civil society must work together to ensure that lifesaving hepatitis services are available to everyone.
On this World Hepatitis Day, ACIOE Foundation reaffirms its commitment to evidence-based advocacy, inclusive healthcare, and stronger health systems that protect women, children, and vulnerable populations. Together, by breaking down barriers to awareness, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, we can move closer to a future where hepatitis is no longer a threat to mothers, families, and communities.
Together, let’s break it down—and build a healthier, hepatitis-free future.