28/07/2025
๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ
Hepatitis B and C continue to pose a significant public health threat in Ghana. Empirical data indicate that approximately 8.5% and 3% of Ghanaians are living with hepatitis B and C, respectively. However, regional disparities exist, with Northern Ghana having the highest burden. Notably, the Savanna Region records the highest prevalence of hepatitis B at an alarming rate of 22.7%, while the Upper East Region has the highest burden of hepatitis C, with a prevalence rate of 14.4%.1,2 Moreover, the majority of liver cancer cases in Ghana are attributable to chronic hepatitis B and C and the average survivor rate following liver cancer diagnosis is only three months.
Despite the considerable progress Ghana has made in addressing the burden of hepatitis B/C, we believe that intensified efforts and sustained financial commitments are crucial to attaining the 2030 hepatitis elimination goals. Accordingly, we appeal to His Excellency the President of the Republic, the Honourable Minister of Health, and the Director General of the Ghana Health Service to priotise the inclusion of viral hepatitis within the scope of conditions eligible for support under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund. We consider this request important given that the costs associated with hepatitis treatment and viral load testing are currently not covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme. As a result, a higher proportion of patients are unable to access these essential services, leading to avoidable hepatitis-related deaths. We firmly believe that the inclusion would not only promote financial risk protection for patients but also enhance early diagnosis, clinical monitoring, and care engagement.
In addition, the Alliance looks forward to the comprehensive rollout of the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine before 31st December 2025, in accordance with repeated pledges made by the Ministry of Health. This intervention is of critical importance in preventing the vertical transmission of hepatitis B from mother to child.
We have no doubt that, through political commitment and timely investment in hepatitis services, the silent suffering of countless individuals whose lives are obscured behind statistical figures and marked by daily despair can be brought to an end.
Thank you
Prof. Charles Ampong Adjei
Executive Director, Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana
Public Health Specialist/ Hepatitis Researcher
0244712071
Ref:
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37352242/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36419017/
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