Executive Summary

In spite of significant prevalence and mortality rates, progress in addressing viral hepatitis in the African region has been slow, primarily due to substantial barriers hindering elimination efforts. Hence, the Africa Hepatitis Summit 2023, themed “Putting Africa on Track towards Viral Hepatitis Elimination,” was convened to stimulate discussions among diverse stakeholders across the continent.

The summit aimed to catalyze action by advancing the viral hepatitis agenda, providing a platform for the broader hepatitis community to exchange ideas, share experiences, and disseminate best practices in addressing the challenges posed by viral hepatitis.

Organized by various societal organizations and hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with WHO AFRO, African Union, CDA Foundation, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN), and World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), the three-day summit brought together experts, civil society organizations, partners, funders, and policymakers.

Additionally, the World Health Organization organized an Afro Pre-summit meeting dedicated to disseminating new guidelines on viral hepatitis launched in 2022 and 2023 and conducted a data workshop to model country-wide estimates of diagnosed and treated individuals, influencing policy and implementation decisions. The World Hepatitis Alliance also organized a capacity-building event for all WHA members. The summit was supported by partners and sponsors such as Abbott, Gilead, Viatris, and Cepheid.

Approximately 500 representatives from over 15 different countries participated in the event, sharing valuable insights on accessing national funding and financing opportunities, prioritizing Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) elimination, and implementing actions outlined in the African Union (AU) declaration on Viral Hepatitis.

The summit also highlighted best practices in programmatic implementation, the transformation of global strategy into regional and country plans, and the critical role of resource mobilization in funding the hepatitis response. Presentations from Egypt, Rwanda, and Nassarawa state, Nigeria showcased that Viral Hepatitis Elimination was possible, and they were awarded for their efforts towards elimination.

The summit concluded with a strong call to action, urging countries to commit to achieving the 2030 targets for hepatitis elimination.

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