Only 1% Ghanaians with hepatitis B diagnosed, less than 1% on treatment

For hepatitis C, only nine per cent of infected persons have been diagnosed, while fewer than one per cent are on treatment The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) roadmap requires that by 2030, 90 per cent of people living with chronic hepatitis B and C should be diagnosed, while 80 per cent of those diagnosed should be on treatment.

Commitment The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to expand access to hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment and long-term care, decentralising services and strengthening surveillance systems.

He called for an urgent need to expand screening, improve financing and stronger political commitment if the country was to meet the WHO target of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.