New strategy targets hepatitis B and C as experts urge earlier diagnosis, stronger research and better access to advanced treatment

The Federal Government, led by Minister of State for Health Dr Adekunle Salako, is intensifying liver cancer prevention through stronger hepatitis B and C control as health experts gathered in Abuja on Thursday, August 13, 2026, to examine ways of improving cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment across Africa.

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Salako made the disclosure at the fifth Africa Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Cancer Consortium Conference, which is bringing together specialists, researchers and healthcare professionals from more than 30 African countries, as well as participants from the United States, Europe and Asia.

Represented by Prof Musa Ali-Gonbe, Director of Clinical Services at the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Salako said Nigeria’s cancer response remained hampered by late presentation, limited specialised diagnostic services, shortages of skilled personnel and restricted access to advanced treatment.

High treatment costs, weak health systems and insufficient research also continue to weigh on cancer outcomes.

“Particular attention is being given to liver cancer through the prevention and control of hepatitis B and C, including vaccination, screening, diagnosis and treatment,” Salako said.

The renewed focus comes as global cancer experts increasingly emphasise prevention and early detection alongside treatment.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has identified liver cancer among the world’s leading causes of cancer deaths, while its research has highlighted the need for stronger prevention measures targeting infectious causes of cancer.

For Africa, the challenge is particularly pressing because gaps in cancer registries, diagnostics and treatment capacity can make it difficult to detect and manage the disease early. IARC has previously called for greater investment in cancer data systems and diagnostic capacity across sub-Saharan Africa.

Salako said the Federal Government was strengthening prevention and early detection under the National Strategic Cancer Control Plan while working to expand diagnostic and treatment services.

The government is also seeking to integrate cancer screening into primary healthcare and strengthen referral pathways to tertiary hospitals, a move intended to help patients reach specialist care earlier.

The minister stressed that improving cancer outcomes would require cooperation across the health sector.

“What is needed is stronger collaboration, coordinated action, sustainable financing and political commitment to translate knowledge and research into accessible healthcare services,” he said.

The government is also pursuing financial protection for cancer patients through initiatives such as the National Cancer Health Fund and the Cancer Access Partnership Programme, which provides subsidised chemotherapy medicines.

Salako called for greater investment in African-led research, cancer registries and clinical trials, as well as technology, innovation and digital health.

He also backed the use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to support earlier cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment.

The conference itself reflects that broader push for collaboration. The Africa HepatoPancreatoBiliary Cancer Consortium says its 2026 scientific meeting in Abuja is focused on prevention, treatment, research and survivorship, with an emphasis on reducing mortality from hepatopancreatobiliary cancers.

Cancer researcher and Mayo Clinic academic leader Dr Folakemi Odedina used the gathering to shift attention towards the people who will sustain such progress in the years ahead.

Odedina urged senior scientists, clinicians and health professionals to deliberately mentor younger professionals and prepare them for leadership.

“Leadership is not the only goal, but legacy should be the goal,” she said.

Drawing on more than 40 years in clinical academia and research, Odedina said experienced professionals should ensure that institutions do not depend solely on the individuals currently leading them.

“I don’t want to leave the leadership positions that I have empty. I want to transition them into other people,” she said.

Her remarks added a human dimension to discussions that largely centred on cancer systems, research and treatment, stressing that sustainable progress would depend not only on technology and funding but also on developing the next generation of specialists.

Meanwhile, Prof Abidemi Omonisi, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Cancer Society, raised particular concern about Nigeria’s hepatitis B burden.

Omonisi said chronic hepatitis B infection remained an important contributor to liver cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and called for Nigeria to develop its own liver transplant capacity.

He cited Egypt and South Africa as examples of African countries that have established liver transplant centres.

“People don’t die from liver cancer in developed countries because they can do liver transplants,” Omonisi said.

A domestic transplant programme, he argued, would reduce the number of Nigerians forced to travel abroad when they require advanced liver treatment.

The call highlights a difficult part of Nigeria’s cancer journey. Preventing infections and detecting disease early can reduce the need for complex interventions, but patients who present with advanced disease require specialist facilities and highly trained personnel.

Experts at the conference also drew attention to hepatitis C, whose often silent progression can allow serious liver damage to develop before an individual is diagnosed.

The meeting was organised by the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer, the African Society of Liver and Digestive Diseases, the Nigerian Cancer Society, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria, alongside other professional and research organisations.

Discussions are covering cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship and policy, with vaccination, screening and improved care for people living with hepatitis B and C at the heart of the agenda.

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For Nigeria, the emerging message is clear: stronger treatment facilities remain essential, but a powerful opportunity lies in preventing infections and identifying liver disease before it progresses to cancer.