Hepatitis B, a ticking time bomb

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can either be acute or chronic in nature.

The virus is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth, early childhood and through contact with blood or other body fluids during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections or exposure to sharp instruments.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 254 million people were living with chronic Hepatitis B infection in 2022, with 1.2 million new infections each year.

In 2022, Hepatitis B resulted in an estimated 1.1 million deaths, mostly from cirrhosis and primary liver cancer.

The disease is causing havoc around the world, with over two billion people being infected globally. 

Hepatitis B has become a major concern in the country, as the disease currently affects approximately 9.1 per cent of the population, with about 2.8 million people living with the condition.

This, undoubtedly, places the country in a severe public health crisis, as 14,000 deaths are recorded annually, and a staggering 42 deaths occurring daily, primarily among young adults.

The northern regions of Ghana have the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B and C, with the Savannah Region having a 22.7 per cent prevalence rate.

This is alarming, considering the national average is around 10 per cent.

The lack of awareness, inadequate testing and limited access to healthcare are significant contributors to the spread of the disease.

Hepatitis B can lead to liver failure, liver cancer, and even death.

In Ghana, Hepatitis B constitutes between 80 and 90 per cent of liver cancer cases, making it a leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

The median age for developing liver cancer in Ghana is 42, which means that young people in their productive years are being lost to the disease.

The good news, however, is that the government has committed to eliminating Hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 in line with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) targets. Nonetheless, significant gaps remain in testing, vaccination and care.

Many people, especially in rural areas, lack understanding and knowledge of how Hepatitis B is transmitted, its symptoms and prevention methods.

Again, people living with Hepatitis B often face social isolation, shame and blame, which discourages them from seeking testing, treatment and care.

This stigma also affects healthcare workers' attitudes towards patients with Hepatitis B.

Further to these, the country still struggles with low testing rates, with only about 54 per cent of participants in a study reportedly having been tested for Hepatitis B.

The Daily Graphic notes that the lack of testing facilities, especially in rural areas, and the high cost of testing kits contribute to this gap.

We also see vaccination as another area that needs improvement.

Although the country has introduced Hepatitis B vaccination into its national immunisation programme, the vaccine is not always available, and many people, especially adults, remain unvaccinated.

Care and treatment for Hepatitis B patients are inadequate, as many patients lack access to antiviral treatment, besides healthcare workers often lacking the training and skills to manage Hepatitis B cases effectively.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) must thus focus on addressing these gaps.

We think this will require a multi-faceted approach, including educating the public about the risks and consequences of Hepatitis B.

Awareness campaigns can help reduce stigma and encourage people to get tested.

Policymakers must also ensure access to healthcare services is expanded, particularly in rural areas, to include providing free or subsidised testing and treatment for Hepatitis B.

The MOH and the GHS should also consider implementing vaccination programmes, particularly for newborns and high-risk groups to help prevent the spread of the disease.

We acknowledge though that funding for many activities from development partners are dwindling with time.

But we still urge the government to  continue to collaborate with international organisations, civil society and the private sector to mobilise resources and expertise to combat Hepatitis B.

The rise of Hepatitis B is a pressing public health concern, and it is only through collective action that the country can eliminate the condition as a public health threat.