By Christopher Tetteh
Sunyani, (Bono), July 29, GNA-The Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana (HAG) has advocated the inclusion of Hepatitis Care into the Ghana Medical Trust Fund widely known as “Mahama Cares.”
The government has launched the Trust Fund to provide financial support for people suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, and heart conditions.
An initiative, introduced by President John Dramani Mahama, the Fund is expected to ease the financial burden of treatment and improve access to healthcare for affected individuals.
However, a statement issued and signed by Professor Charles Ampong Adjei, the Executive Director of the HAG noted that the viral Hepatitis ‘B’ and Hepatitis ‘C’ continued remained a national public health concern.
It was issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani in commemoration of the 2025 World Hepatitis Day on the theme “Let’s Break It Down”.
The World Hepatitis Day takes place annually on 28 July to raise awareness about viral hepatitis.
The statement emphasiszed the critical need to “disassemble or destroy the barriers preventing many people from accessing the needed care”, adding that, empirical data indicated that approximately 8.5 per cent and three percent of Ghanaians were living with hepatitis ‘B’ and hepatitis ‘C’ respectively.
It regretted, however, that regional disparities existed, with Northern part of the country having the highest burden.
The statement indicated that the Savanna Region recorded the highest prevalence of hepatitis ‘B’ at an alarming rate of 22.7 per cent, with the Upper East Region having the highest burden of hepatitis ‘C’ with the prevalence rate of 14.4 per cent.
It said, “The majority of liver cancer cases in Ghana are attributable to chronic hepatitis ‘B’ and hepatitis ‘C’ and the average survivor rate following liver cancer diagnosis is only three months.”
The statement noted that despite the considerable progress made in the country so far, in addressing the burden of hepatitis ‘B’ and hepatitis ‘C’, intensified efforts and sustained financial commitments remained crucial to attaining the 2030 United Nations hepatitis elimination goals.
It said: “We therefore appeal to President Mahama to prioritize the inclusion of hepatitis within the scope of conditions eligible for support under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund”.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Benjamin Mensah