By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, July 28, GNA – The government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 through expanded prevention, testing, vaccination and treatment services.
It said the strategy would strengthen early diagnosis, improve access to care and reduce mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B through nationwide health interventions.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, announced the measures in a speech delivered on his behalf during the commemoration of World Hepatitis Day 2026 and the inauguration of the National Viral Hepatitis Technical Working Group in Accra.
He said about three million Ghanaians were living with hepatitis B and another 500,000 with hepatitis C, while many remained unaware of their status because the disease often progressed without symptoms.
Mr Akandoh said chronic hepatitis B and C were leading causes of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, with liver cancer now the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ghana and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
“The theme, ‘Hepatitis Elimination for Everyone, Everywhere, Right Now,’ speaks to both agency and equity. Elimination cannot be achieved if vaccination, testing and treatment remain available only to those who can afford them or live close to major health facilities,” he said.
The Minister said the Government had strengthened the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme through strategic planning, public education and partnerships.
He highlighted the Stop Hepatitis C Ghana Programme, under which medicines donated by the Government of Egypt and other partners had enabled free curative treatment for hepatitis C patients.
Mr Akandoh announced plans to introduce the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine nationwide under the Routine Immunisation Programme, saying administration within 24 hours of birth would significantly reduce mother-to-child transmission.
He said the Free Primary Healthcare Programme would integrate hepatitis education, screening, vaccination and referral services into Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, health centres, polyclinics and district hospitals.
Antenatal services would identify pregnant women living with hepatitis B and provide interventions to reduce transmission to newborns, he said.
Mr Akandoh acknowledged challenges, including low diagnosis and treatment rates, inadequate laboratory capacity, limited public awareness and the high cost of diagnostic tests.
He said the Government would strengthen surveillance, decentralise hepatitis services, improve referral systems and work with the National Health Insurance Authority to develop sustainable financing for hepatitis care.
The Minister urged members of the National Viral Hepatitis Technical Working Group to provide strategic leadership in implementing Ghana’s hepatitis elimination plan and encouraged the public to undergo testing, receive vaccination where eligible and seek early treatment.
Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, said viral hepatitis had remained a neglected public health issue because of low awareness, limited testing and treatment concentrated in specialist facilities.
“Today, I am happy to say that picture is changing,” he said, attributing progress to the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme and its partners through expanded public education, healthcare worker training and stronger collaboration.
Dr Kaba said thousands of Ghanaians had benefited from free hepatitis C treatment under the Stop Hepatitis C Ghana Programme, while the Free Primary Healthcare Programme would integrate hepatitis services into maternal and child health, HIV care, laboratory services and community health systems.
He outlined the Triple Elimination Initiative, which seeks to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and congenital syphilis through routine antenatal screening, treatment and universal hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination.
Dr Kaba reaffirmed the Ghana Health Service’s commitment to expanding hepatitis services and, during the ceremony, appointed musician and public health advocate Okyame Kwame as the Service’s Hepatitis Champion to support public education.
Dr Fiona Braka, World Health Organization Representative to Ghana, said Africa had made progress in reducing new hepatitis infections through vaccination and expanded treatment, although many people still lacked timely diagnosis and care.
“We already have the tools needed to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat,” she said, citing effective vaccines, reliable diagnostic tools and available treatments.
Dr Braka welcomed Ghana’s progress towards introducing the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine and described the signing of implementation arrangements by the Ministries of Health and Finance as an important milestone.
She also commended Egypt for donating hepatitis C medicines and welcomed the inauguration of the National Viral Hepatitis Technical Working Group as part of efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Samira Larbie