The Kigali “Act Now” Declaration on Hepatitis Elimination in Africa

By: Mukuye Ashiraf
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07^th November, 2025

The Kigali “Act Now” Declaration on Hepatitis Elimination in Africa

Theme: No Time to Waste — Act NOW

Adopted: October 2025 | Location: Kigali, Rwanda

A Continental Call to Urgent Action

At the Africa Hepatitis Summit 2025 held in Kigali, Rwanda, leaders from across the continent adopted the Kigali “Act Now” Declaration, a bold and urgent call to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in Africa.

The summit convened delegates from African governments, regional institutions, health ministries, civil society, academia, affected communities, and international partners, all united under a single message — there is no time to waste.

Across Africa, over 73 million people live with hepatitis B and C, and more than 200,000 lives are lost every year to hepatitis-related diseases such as liver cancer and cirrhosis. The declaration recognizes this growing crisis, now surpassing the combined threat of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis as a cause of preventable death on the continent.

A Pledge Grounded in Global and Regional Vision

The declaration builds upon the WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis (2022–2030) and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also draws inspiration from the Cairo Hepatitis Declaration, reaffirming Africa’s shared commitment to health equity, leadership, and innovation.

By signing the declaration, participants committed to translating global vision into tangible, measurable, and sustained action — ensuring that hepatitis elimination is not merely an aspiration, but a continental reality.

Key Pillars of the Kigali Declaration

1. Act Now for Leadership and Political Commitment

African governments and parliamentarians are urged to prioritize hepatitis elimination as a central component of public health and national development agendas.
This includes:

Integrating hepatitis programs within Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Primary Health Care (PHC) frameworks.
Setting 2030 elimination milestones and reporting progress through WHO and African Union (AU) platforms.
The declaration emphasizes that political will is the backbone of every successful health movement — and that leaders must commit resources, policy, and accountability to save lives.

2. Act Now for Domestic Financing and Sustainability

As donor funding declines globally, the declaration calls on African nations to mobilize domestic resources for hepatitis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Countries are encouraged to:

Include hepatitis services in national and community-based health insurance schemes.
Explore innovative financing models, including private-sector partnerships and philanthropic contributions.
Integrate hepatitis within national immunization and health plans to ensure long-term program sustainability.

3. Act Now for Integration and Health System Strengthening

The fight against hepatitis must not occur in isolation. The declaration promotes integrated health service delivery by linking hepatitis programs with HIV, TB, cancer, maternal health, and primary care systems.
It further advocates for strengthening:

Laboratory networks and diagnostic capacity.
Health workforce training and data systems.
Equitable access to services, even in rural and underserved regions.

By weaving hepatitis care into broader health structures, countries can maximize efficiency and ensure continuity of care.

4. Act Now for Mothers and Newborns

Every African child deserves to be born free of hepatitis B.
The declaration commits nations to:

Screen all pregnant women for hepatitis B and ensure access to appropriate care.
Expand the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine to every newborn within 24 hours of birth.
Strengthen maternal and child health programs to achieve triple elimination of HIV, HBV, and Syphilis.
This integrated approach protects both mothers and babies, advancing Africa’s progress toward a generation free from viral hepatitis.

5. Act Now for Access and Innovation

Ensuring access to affordable, high-quality diagnostics and medicines is at the heart of the Kigali Declaration.
The document calls for:

Local manufacturing and technology transfer to reduce dependency on imports.
Adoption of digital health innovations for testing, treatment tracking, and patient support.
Regional frameworks for quality assurance and accreditation to guarantee safe and reliable hepatitis services.

6. Act Now for Communities and Equity

The declaration recognizes that true progress begins within communities.
It calls for governments and partners to:

Empower civil society and patient networks with the resources and voice they need to influence policy.
Engage young people as advocates for awareness and prevention.
Tackle stigma, misinformation, and discrimination that often hinder testing and treatment.

The guiding principle — no one is left behind — reinforces that elimination can only succeed through inclusivity and community ownership.

7. Act Now for Regional Solidarity

Continental progress requires collaboration beyond borders.
The declaration urges the African Union (AU), Africa CDC, WHO, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), and other partners to:

Strengthen regional surveillance and data systems.
Enhance pooled procurement mechanisms for affordable commodities.
Foster South–South cooperation and cross-border collaboration.
Advocate globally for equitable financing and innovation in Africa’s hepatitis response.

Transforming Words into Action

The Kigali “Act Now” Declaration is not merely a document — it is a continental movement. It signals Africa’s readiness to move from commitment to implementation, ensuring that no life is lost to a preventable and treatable infection.

Delegates pledged to monitor progress transparently, share best practices, and hold both national and regional institutions accountable for achieving hepatitis elimination by 2030.