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Announcement of Funded Organizations
January 15, 2026
ABAC and the Hepatitis B Foundation are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025/26 African Hepatitis B Advocacy Coalition (ABAC) Community Catalyst Grants. This year’s funding cycle was highly competitive, with more than 60 applications submitted from across the continent—underscoring both the urgent need for hepatitis B programming and the strength of community-based leadership advancing elimination efforts.
The 11 selected organizations represent seven countries, diverse organizational models, and a wide range of programmatic approaches. All share a common commitment to equity, sustainability, and community leadership.
These grants support grassroots initiatives aligned with ABAC’s priorities, including:
- Expanding hepatitis B awareness and education
- Increasing access to screening and vaccination
- Reducing stigma and discrimination
- Advancing perinatal prevention
- Strengthening health system capacity for hepatitis B testing, treatment, care, and management
Each proposal underwent a rigorous, multi-stage review process assessing mission alignment, regional representation, partnerships, sustainability beyond the grant period, and the meaningful inclusion of people with lived experience in program design and leadership. The final grantees were recommended by the ABAC External Advisory Group.
We are excited to collaborate with these 11 partners representing seven countries over the coming year and to share their progress, lessons learned, and impact across the coalition.
Agago Action for Good Health – Uganda
Country: Uganda
Project Lead: Mr. Okello Raymond
Project: Sustainable Community Strategies for Achieving Hepatitis B Elimination in Agago District
This community-led initiative focuses on awareness, stigma reduction, perinatal prevention, and health system strengthening in Northern Uganda. The project will:
- Conduct nine community awareness campaigns reaching 1,050 people
- Establish three peer support groups for 450 people living with hepatitis B
- Support screening for at least 400 pregnant women across nine public facilities
- Provide mentorship for vaccinators and midwives and improve referral and reporting systems
By integrating hepatitis B services into maternal and child health care, the project aims to achieve sustained reductions in transmission and improved access to care.
Bekwarra Hepatitis B Support & Advocacy Initiative
Country: Nigeria
Project Lead: Mr. David Irinam
Project: United, Let’s Eliminate Hepatitis B in Cross River
This initiative will implement community-based prevention and screening across Northern and Central Cross River State. Key outcomes include:
- Screening at least 5,000 individuals (ages 15–45)
- Increasing community knowledge by approximately 60% through education and radio outreach
- Training 150 healthcare workers and community volunteers
- Establishing referral pathways for vaccination and clinical follow-up
The project will also generate baseline data to support long-term integration with state and local health authorities.
Community Vision Group
Country: Cameroon
Project Lead: Dr. Gilbert Ngwaneh Miki
Project: RISE HepB – Raising Awareness for Improved Screening and Expanded Care for Hepatitis B
Implemented in Bum Sub-Division, North West Cameroon, this project will:
- Reach at least 10,000 people through schools, churches, markets, and community outreach
- Provide free screening to at least 1,000 individuals across three health facilities
- Establish referral and linkage-to-care pathways
- Advocate for integration of hepatitis B activities into municipal development plans
Youth engagement, school-based clubs, and local government ownership will support long-term sustainability.
Jeneso Development Initiative (JDI)
Country: Nigeria
Project Lead: Mr. Sunyasemeni Almond Ezra
Project: Hepatitis B Rural Community Access and Awareness Campaign Initiative (HB-RuCAI)
Operating across 12 semi-urban communities in Adamawa State, this project will:
- Screen 1,000 mothers and youth and ensure linkage to care
- Train 24 primary health workers in testing and referral
- Train 60 women and youth leaders as community educators
- Use radio and community outreach to address stigma and low awareness
The project strengthens community ownership and embeds hepatitis B services within primary health systems.
Knowhep Foundation Sierra Leone
Country: Sierra Leone
Project Lead: Dr. Manal Ghazzawi
Project: B-FREE Sierra Leone: Building Awareness, Facilitating Screening, and Reaching Elimination of Hepatitis B
Focused on preventing mother-to-child transmission, this initiative will:
- Reach 5,000 people directly and an estimated 50,000 through media
- Screen 1,000 pregnant women and vaccinate at least 500
- Achieve 80% linkage to care for those testing positive
- Train 30 healthcare providers and integrate services into antenatal care
Best practices will inform national policy and support long-term scale-up.
Rabo Hepatitis B Initiative
Country: Nigeria
Project Lead: Dr. Nathaniel Rabo
Project: B-Free Rural Makurdi Project
Targeting four rural communities in Benue State, the project will:
- Screen at least 800 individuals
- Link HBV-positive individuals to care and refer HBV-negative individuals for vaccination
- Train local volunteers and engage community leaders
The initiative emphasizes early detection, stigma reduction, and integration into existing public health systems.
Rise Against Hepatitis Global Initiative
Country: Nigeria
Project Lead: Ms. Oni Adesuwa
Project: Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission in Rural Benue State
This pilot intervention will:
- Screen 500 pregnant women
- Train 30 traditional birth attendants to promote facility-based delivery and referrals
- Ensure at least 90% of newborns receive the hepatitis B birth-dose within 24 hours
Community outreach and media engagement will increase demand for vaccination and skilled care.
Shepherd for Health, Environment, Advocacy and Development Centre (SHEAD)
Country: Nigeria
Project Lead: Mr. Babatunde Joseph Abioye
Project: SHIELD – Screening, Health Education, Immunization, Elimination, Linkage, and Dignity
SHEAD’s comprehensive program will:
- Conduct stakeholder engagement with government and community leaders
- Provide screening, counseling, and referral services
- Integrate hepatitis B services into TB, HIV, and maternal and child health programs
- Deliver culturally appropriate education and stigma-reduction campaigns
Tanzania Health Alliance
Country: Tanzania
Project Lead: Mr. Shaibu Issa
Project: Kapime (“Get Tested”) Campaign
This initiative will:
- Train 20 community health workers in hepatitis B prevention, testing, and referrals
- Produce and distribute IEC materials to support sustained community education
- Monitor ongoing engagement to ensure long-term impact and reduced stigma
Youth Aid Liberia
Country: Liberia
Project Lead: Mr. Swaliho M. Fofana
Project: CARE4HEPB
Implemented in Montserrado and Grand Bassa counties, the project will:
- Screen 2,000 individuals and link 90% of positive cases to care
- Train 50 healthcare workers and peer navigators
- Reach 1,500 direct beneficiaries and an estimated 50,000 through media
Sustainability efforts include institutionalized training and documented best practices.
Youth Link South Sudan
Country: South Sudan
Project Lead: Mr. Mborimbuko Simon Kalesto
Project: Community-Driven Hepatitis B Prevention in Ezo County
This six-month project will:
- Train 50 local Hepatitis B Champions
- Link at least 80% of positive cases to counseling and treatment
- Conduct community screening, vaccination, and education in the Pazande language
The initiative aims to reduce stigma, improve knowledge, and strengthen access to care for more than 21,000 community members.
Thank You to All Applicants
We extend our sincere thanks to every organization that applied. Your dedication, innovation, and leadership continue to inspire the movement to eliminate hepatitis B across Africa.
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