Ghana's Silent Hepatitis B Crisis: Diagnosing Millions Left Behind

• An estimated three million people in Ghana are living with chronic hepatitis B, yet only one percent have been diagnosed.
• Less than one percent of those diagnosed are receiving treatment, highlighting a pressing need for urgent action to address this public health crisis.
• The planned nationwide hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination programme is a critical intervention aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission.

This lack of awareness is compounded by inadequate testing and treatment facilities, leaving patients vulnerable and anxious.

Ghana's hepatitis B epidemic has been shrouded in silence for far too long, with an estimated three million people living with the disease yet only one percent diagnosed. The stark reality is that even fewer – less than one percent of those diagnosed – are receiving treatment. This alarming trend was revealed by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) during World Hepatitis Day commemorations, highlighting a pressing need for urgent action to address this public health crisis. The statistics paint a dire picture: millions of Ghanaians remain unaware of their hepatitis B status, and many only seek medical attention when it's too late, with severe liver damage having already occurred.

The Programme Manager of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, Dr John Gerald Adiiboka, has sounded a warning that many infected individuals are unaware they have the disease due to its asymptomatic nature. This lack of awareness is compounded by inadequate testing and treatment facilities, leaving patients vulnerable and anxious. The GHS's commitment to the World Health Organisation (WHO) target of diagnosing 90 percent of people living with chronic viral hepatitis and placing 80 percent on treatment by 2030 is laudable, but achieving this goal will require a more aggressive and coordinated response.

The planned nationwide hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination programme is a critical intervention aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission, which accounts for about 95 percent of hepatitis B infections in Ghana. The government's efforts to expand vaccination, improve screening, and strengthen surveillance are commendable, but implementation must be matched with adequate resources and clear accountability. Public awareness and access to testing must also improve, particularly in regions with high prevalence rates, including Savannah, Northern, Upper West, and Upper East.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for the government's efforts to expand vaccination, improve screening, and strengthen surveillance, as well as the planned nationwide hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination programme, which may impact public health policies and regulations.

Source: Original reporting via Ghanaian Times