Omanghana
Hepatitis B is responsible for approximately 75 per cent of liver cancer cases in Ghana, making the viral infection the country’s leading cause of the disease.
Medical experts disclosed the alarming statistic during the launch of World Hepatitis Day activities and the inauguration of a National Technical Working Group in Accra.
Dr. Eileen Akonobea Micah of the Ghana Association for the Study of Liver and Digestive Diseases warned that hepatitis B-related liver cancer is placing a heavy burden on families, healthcare facilities and the national workforce.
She said Ghana has one of Africa’s highest hepatitis B burdens, making early detection, vaccination and access to treatment critical to reducing preventable deaths.
A three-year study conducted at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital reportedly found that three out of every four liver cancer patients tested positive for chronic hepatitis B. Health experts said similar patterns have been observed at other medical facilities across the country.
Figures from the Global Cancer Observatory also indicate that liver cancer is the second most common cancer among Ghanaian men and the fourth most common among women.
Despite the severity of the problem, hepatitis B is often described as a silent epidemic because infected individuals may remain without noticeable symptoms for several years.
The Ghana Health Service estimates that about three million people in the country are living with chronic hepatitis B. However, only about one per cent have been diagnosed, leaving millions unaware of their status.
Without early diagnosis and proper medical monitoring, chronic hepatitis B can gradually damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer. Many patients seek medical care only after the condition has progressed to a life-threatening stage.
Mother-to-child transmission remains a major route of infection in Ghana. Medical experts are therefore calling for stronger testing programs for pregnant women, timely vaccination of newborns and improved access to preventive treatment.
They are also urging the government to expand public education, increase nationwide screening and decentralize hepatitis treatment services so that patients outside major cities can receive appropriate care.
The newly inaugurated National Technical Working Group is expected to help coordinate Ghana’s response by strengthening prevention, diagnosis, treatment and public awareness programs.
Health authorities continue to encourage the public to undergo hepatitis B screening and seek professional medical advice, particularly because early detection can significantly reduce the risk of serious liver complications.
Source: Omanghana
