The country is grappling with a growing burden of hepatitis infections and fatalities, exacerbated by low rates of diagnosis, treatment, and awareness. According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), due to hesitancy in testing, only a mere 10 percent of individuals with chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) have been diagnosed, and of those diagnosed, only 22 percent have received treatment.

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For Hepatitis C, the situation is slightly better, with 21 percent of those with the infection diagnosed, and 62 percent of them receiving treatment for a potential cure. In an effort to combat this worrisome trend, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, launched this year's World Hepatitis Day Commemoration in Accra, urging everyone to get tested.

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The goal is to diagnose 90 percent of Hepatitis B and C cases and ensure at least 80 percent of them receive treatment, thereby curbing the increasing burden of the disease. Dr. Kuma-Aboagye emphasized that some forms of hepatitis are curable, while others can be effectively managed to enable infected individuals to lead normal lives. Early detection and treatment can make a significant difference in the outcomes.

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The World Hepatitis Day, instituted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and observed on July 28 each year, aims to raise awareness, reduce prevalence, and improve access to testing and treatment. The theme for this year's commemoration is "One life, one liver," urging people to protect their livers through healthy lifestyles.

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The activities leading up to the day include free screening across the country and public sensitization forums nationwide. Dr. Baruch Blumberg's birthday, who discovered the Hepatitis B virus in 1967 and developed the first hepatitis B vaccine two years later, is chosen as the date for WHD.

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To address the growing hepatitis prevalence, the GHS is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund to implement a triple elimination strategy targeting Hepatitis B, HIV, and Syphilis. Efforts are being made to expand antenatal services to include HBV testing for pregnant women and provide necessary treatment.

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The government is also striving to benefit from reduced prices of medications for the treatment of Hepatitis B and C on the global market. Moreover, steps are being taken to increase access to testing and treatment, including ensuring all pregnant women with chronic HBV have access to treatment and providing Hepatitis B birth vaccines to infants within 24 hours of birth.

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Viral hepatitis refers to liver inflammation caused by hepatotropic viruses, which are found in blood and certain bodily fluids. The five identified hepatitis viruses are Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.As the country endeavors to combat this public health issue, efforts are being made to raise awareness, promote testing and treatment, and implement various interventions to reduce the impact of hepatitis infections on the

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population.

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