In a bold move to combat hepatitis B and C, Ghana is launching a nationwide campaign to eradicate these liver diseases by 2030. The Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF) will spearhead the “Hepatitis Free Ghana 2030” campaign, which will launch in September 2024. The initiative will focus on comprehensive awareness, free screenings and vaccinations, and policy advocacy to significantly improve public health and reduce the burden of hepatitis in the country.
GLOMEF’s efforts are set to make a substantial impact, paving the way for a healthier future for all Ghanaians. The campaign will offer free hepatitis B and C screenings to at least 100,000 individuals and vaccinate at least 50,000 people. It will also train 500 healthcare workers in hepatitis management and prevention protocols, enhancing their capacity to diagnose, treat, and manage hepatitis cases.
Raphael Godlove Ahenu, CEO of GLOMEF, announced this initiative during a forum in Sunyani to commemorate World Hepatitis Day. This day is observed every July 28 to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, which causes severe liver disease and cancer. This year’s theme is “It’s time for action.
” Mr Ahenu expressed concern over World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, which estimate that 3,000 people die daily from liver diseases caused by viral hepatitis. Almost 90% of people living with viral hepatitis are unaware of their condition. Globally, 304 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B and C in 2022.
If current trends continue, viral hepatitis will claim more lives annually than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined by 2040. This underscores the urgent need for action to prevent this potential health crisis. Only 45% of babies received the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth in 2022, and 1.
3 million people died from chronic hepatitis B and C, with a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness. This alarming situation calls for accelerated action on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to save lives and improve health outcomes. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment and decreasing product prices, testing and treatment coverage rates have stalled.
Globally and in Ghana, hepatitis diagnosis and treatment remain exceptionally low: only 10% of people with chronic Hepatitis B are diagnosed, and just 22% receive treatment. Awareness of hepatitis in Ghana also remains low. Mr Ahenu highlighted that hepatitis B and C are significant public health concerns in Ghana, potentially leading to severe liver diseases like cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated.
An estimated 8-10% of the Ghanaian population is affected by hepatitis B, and about 3% by hepatitis C. The campaign will focus on urban and rural areas, especially regions with high hepatitis prevalence and limited healthcare access, including the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, and Volta Regions. By targeting these populations, the project aims to make a significant and lasting impact in the fight against hepatitis B and C in Ghana, instilling hope for a healthier future.
If swift action is taken now, reaching the WHO elimination goal by 2030 is achievable. However, challenges such as the high cost of treatment and limited healthcare access persist. Antiviral medications and liver disease management are often unaffordable, and rural areas face significant barriers to accessing healthcare services for diagnosis and treatment.
The campaign will deploy mobile van clinics to address these challenges and reach remote areas. Mr. Ahenu emphasized the crucial need for support from the WHO, private entities like pharmaceutical companies, and international non-profit organizations.
Their support is vital in helping Ghana achieve its goal of becoming hepatitis-free by 2030..
