High Prevalence of Hepatitis B Reported in Ghana
The National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme Manager, Dr Atsu Seake-Kwawu, has revealed that the country is experiencing a high prevalence of hepatitis B, exceeding eight percent. This indicates that Ghana is hyper-endemic for hepatitis B, primarily transmitted from mother to child, rather than solely through sexual intercourse.
“This points to intergenerational transmission within our country which we must address to have an impact on the prevalence of the disease.
“The moment the country starts addressing this, our prevalence will come down,” he said, adding that worldwide, eight per cent is used to determine the hyper-endemicity of a country.
These remarks were made during the third national hepatitis summit held in Accra.
The summit, organized by the Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana, a non-governmental organization, spans two days and focuses on the theme “Making elimination of viral hepatitis a reality in Ghana.”
Healthcare professionals, researchers, academics, and civil society organizations are convening to discuss potential strategies to achieve the global hepatitis target.
Dr Seake-Kwawu stressed the importance of testing in the fight against hepatitis B. He encouraged everyone, especially pregnant women, to undergo testing for early detection and treatment. This measure is crucial in preventing high viral load individuals from transmitting the virus to their unborn babies.
Hepatitis B is one of the viral hepatitis strains prevalent in the country, alongside hepatitis A, C, D, and E.
He noted that hepatitis A and E are primarily linked to water, sanitation, and food, causing acute illnesses but not chronic conditions. Hepatitis A and E outbreaks can occur and require appropriate control measures, while hepatitis B and C infections can lead to chronic complications. Hepatitis D, on the other hand, cannot exist independently and necessitates the presence of hepatitis B.
Dr Seake-Kwawu highlighted that although all viral hepatitis strains affect the liver and exhibit similar symptoms, their management approaches differ. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B, but not for hepatitis C and E, except in China.
He also mentioned significant milestones in the country’s response to combating hepatitis, including the “STOP HepC Ghana Project,” a nationwide initiative for recruiting hepatitis C patients, and Egypt’s commitment to providing Ghana with 150,000 courses of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) to support hepatitis treatment.
Prosper Senyo Sokpe, the Operations Manager of the Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana, stated that the summit aims to enhance healthcare providers’ knowledge of treating individuals with viral hepatitis and educate them on preventive measures against the disease.
