Northern Ghana bears highest hepatitis B burden as Health Ministry strengthens elimination efforts

Programme Manager of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, Dr John Gerald Adiiboka, said some regions in northern Ghana continue to record high hepatitis B prevalence rates, partly due to cultural and traditional practices that contribute to transmission.

Health authorities say improved awareness, early testing, vaccination and coordinated interventions will be essential to reducing Ghana’s hepatitis burden.

More than three million Ghanaians are estimated to be living with hepatitis B, while about 500,000 others have hepatitis C, according to the Ghana Health Service, as authorities intensify efforts to reduce the country’s viral hepatitis burden.