By Uzair Adam
The Kano State Government has launched Nigeria’s first Triple Elimination Programme aimed at preventing the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis from mothers to their babies.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Kano to commemorate the 2025 World Hepatitis Day with the theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break it Down.”
Dr. Yusuf said the state government has released N95 million for the procurement of test kits and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) for pregnant women who test positive for Hepatitis B.
He added that another N135 million is awaiting approval for the purchase of additional materials to support the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT).
“This makes Kano the first state to commence and own the process of Triple Elimination of HIV, Hepatitis, and Syphilis for pregnant women,” he said.
He explained that the pilot programme, titled “HepFree Mothers, Healthy Babies” (HepFree Uwadajariri), was launched in February 2025 to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B through early screening and treatment.
The effort is aligned with the global Triple Elimination goal targeting HIV, Hepatitis, and Syphilis among pregnant women attending antenatal care.
According to Dr. Yusuf, preliminary data shows that Kano State reflects the national trend, with an estimated burden of over 1.2 million people living with Hepatitis B and a prevalence rate of over 6% based on retrospective and current facility data.
He stressed that the infection, though preventable and treatable, often goes undetected, leading to avoidable deaths from liver complications.
The pilot programme is currently implemented in six major facilities: Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Muhammad Wase Teaching Hospital, General Hospital Gaya, General Hospital Bichi, and General Hospital Wudil.
In these hospitals, all eligible pregnant women are screened for Hepatitis B free of charge. Those who test positive are placed on TDF treatment starting from 32 weeks of pregnancy until delivery.
Additionally, immunization officers are posted in labour wards to administer the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine to newborns at birth, also free of charge.
Dr. Yusuf said this effort is part of the state’s strategy to prevent mother-to-child transmission, which accounts for about 70 to 80 percent of all Hepatitis B infections.
He also noted that blood transfusion services across both public and private health facilities in Kano are aligned with screening protocols to ensure safety.
The commissioner reaffirmed Kano State’s commitment to advance the HepFree Mothers, Healthy Babies initiative, integrate hepatitis services into existing maternal and child health platforms, strengthen commodity and data systems, and advocate for increased domestic funding to sustain the gains made.
He called on development partners, the private sector, and the media to support the programme through advocacy, funding, and public sensitisation.