By Sasel E.A. Ekumah/ Stephandy kyeraa, GNA
Accra, July 28, GNA – Health experts have urged Ghanaians to undergo hepatitis screening, receive vaccination where eligible and seek early treatment to support efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
They said expanding early diagnosis, prevention and access to treatment would be critical to reducing hepatitis-related illness and deaths in Ghana.
The experts made the call during the 2026 World Hepatitis Day celebration organised by the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service in Accra.
Professor Promise Emmanuel Safogah, Consultant Obstetrician-Gynaecologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, said hepatitis B remained a major public health challenge in Ghana, affecting about 12.3 per cent of the population and up to 14 per cent of pregnant women.
He said the disease often progressed without symptoms, making routine screening and vaccination essential for early detection and prevention.
Prof Safogah called for the nationwide introduction of the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine to reduce mother-to-child transmission and appealed for hepatitis B immunoglobulin to be covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme to improve access for pregnant women.
He urged the Government and stakeholders to strengthen public education, promote completion of the three-dose hepatitis B vaccination schedule and remove financial barriers to hepatitis prevention and treatment.
Dr Salome Bando, Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist, described hepatitis B and C as “silent killers” because they frequently remained undetected until serious liver damage had occurred.
She said hepatitis B and C could progress to chronic disease, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated.
Dr Bando said Ghana remained a high-burden country, with an estimated eight to 12 per cent of the population living with chronic hepatitis B and between three and six per cent living with hepatitis C.
She said most hepatitis B infections in Ghana occurred through mother-to-child transmission or during early childhood and urged the public to reject the stigma associated with the disease.
Dr Bando encouraged people to know their hepatitis status, receive vaccination if they tested negative and enrol in care if they tested positive.
She said hepatitis B vaccination remained available free of charge for children under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, while hepatitis C treatment was provided free under the Ministry of Health’s Stop Hepatitis C Programme with support from the Government of Egypt.
Dr Robert Amesiya, Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, said eliminating viral hepatitis required coordinated action by government, healthcare providers, traditional authorities, religious leaders and communities.
He expressed concern that fewer than one per cent of Ghanaians knew their hepatitis status and urged the public to undergo testing and vaccination where necessary.
Dr Amesiya said the Government was progressing towards introducing the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine nationwide and called on healthcare workers to make hepatitis screening part of routine healthcare delivery.
Nii Kwatei Owoo I, Chief of Kampise, representing Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, Head of Family and Adontenhene of Osu, pledged the support of traditional leaders for public education and community mobilisation to encourage hepatitis testing, treatment and prevention.
Participants at the event also appealed for regular health screening and greater public awareness to improve early diagnosis and reduce new infections.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey