Nigeria among nations with highest hepatitis deaths in 2024, WHO reports
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The World Health Organization has identified Nigeria as one of the countries contributing significantly to global hepatitis-related deaths in 2024. Viral hepatitis B and C, responsible for 95% of these deaths, caused 1.34 million fatalities in 2024, with 1.8 million new infections annually. Ten countries, including Nigeria, accounted for 69% of hepatitis B-related deaths, while another set of ten countries, also including Nigeria, made up 58% of hepatitis C-related deaths. Despite a 32% decline in new hepatitis B infections and a 12% fall in hepatitis C-related deaths globally since 2015, progress is uneven. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus noted that while elimination is achievable with political commitment and financing, many remain undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems, and unequal access to care. In 2024, an estimated 287 million people lived with chronic hepatitis B or C. Africa accounted for 68% of the 0.9 million new hepatitis B infections, yet only 17% of newborns in the region received the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine. Less than 5% of chronic hepatitis B patients and about 20% of hepatitis C patients have received treatment, despite effective therapies. Liver cirrhosis and liver cancer were the leading causes of the 1.1 million hepatitis B and 240,000 hepatitis C deaths in 2024. The WHO emphasizes the need for expanded vaccination, wider testing, improved treatment access, and stronger prevention to meet 2030 targets.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
BreakingElon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has become the first individual in history to achieve a net worth exceeding $1 trillion. This milestone was reached following SpaceX's initial public offering, which priced shares at $135. Shortly after market open on Friday, the company's shares, trading as "SPCX" on the Nasdaq, rose to $165, an increase of approximately 22% above the IPO price, pushing SpaceX's valuation above $2 trillion. Prior to this listing, Musk's estimated fortune was $813 billion, which was more than double the wealth of the world's second-richest person, Google co-founder Larry Page, valued at about $288 billion. Musk's current net worth now surpasses the combined wealth of Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Larry Ellison. SpaceX, which includes Starlink and xAI, is now the sixth-largest publicly traded company in the United States by valuation, trailing Nvidia, Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu鈥檚 Democracy Day broadcast, stating it was detached from the realities faced by Nigerians. Speaking in Abuja at a colloquium honoring Raymond Dokpesi, Melaye asserted that the speech failed to reflect the hardships of ordinary Nigerians, calling its statistics faulty and intentions disingenuous. He also cited worsening insecurity, including recent kidnappings and killings in Oyo and Kogi states, as evidence of the country's deteriorating situation. Melaye argued that the President should have declared a state of emergency regarding security and that the current administration demonstrates gross incompetence. He referenced Section 42b of the Constitution, emphasizing that the security and welfare of the people are the government's primary prerogative, and suggested that a leader who fails in these areas is a failed president. Melaye concluded that the President is overwhelmed and lacks the capacity to lead, calling for his honorable resignation. Additionally, former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nkoyo Toyo, urged Nigerians not to assume the outcome of the 2027 presidential election is predetermined and to engage in the selection of INEC commissioners. Former Benue State Attorney-General, Alex Ter Adum, expressed concern over the shrinking democratic space and declining tolerance for dissenting views.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Federal Government to improve the security and welfare of students across Nigeria. This demand was made during a nationwide Democracy Day Walk held on Friday in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Imo, Kano, and Gombe states, commemorating 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance. Akinteye Babatunde, President of NANS, stated that Democracy Day offers an opportunity to reflect on democratic gains and the need to safeguard its core dividends, particularly security and citizens' welfare. He expressed concern over the continued captivity of students abducted in Oyo and Borno states, urging intensified efforts for their rescue. Akinteye also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for consolidating June 12 as Nigeria鈥檚 official Democracy Day and honoring the memory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and other pro-democracy heroes. He emphasized that Nigerian students are not passive observers and have consistently been at the forefront of social and political transformations, committing his administration to advancing their welfare and protecting their interests.