"Most people living with hepatitis in Ghana do not know they have it" — Dr. John Gerald Adiiboka

Dr. John Gerald Adiiboka, Programmes Manager of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme under the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has raised concern over the low level of hepatitis awareness in Ghana, warning that the majority of people living with the disease remain undiagnosed until life-threatening complications develop.

Speaking at an event to mark World Hepatitis Day 2026, Dr. Adiiboka said the country's biggest challenge in the fight against viral hepatitis is not only the burden of infection but also the fact that most infected persons are unaware of their status.

"Most people living with hepatitis in Ghana do not know they have the disease," he stated.

According to him, hepatitis B and C are often silent infections, with many patients showing no symptoms during the early stages. As a result, many Ghanaians delay seeking medical care until the disease has progressed to severe liver damage.

"In Ghana, many people only visit a health facility when they experience pain or other obvious symptoms. Because hepatitis is largely asymptomatic, many patients report to hospitals only after developing liver failure, liver cirrhosis or other serious complications. By then, the disease is usually at an advanced stage," Dr. Adiiboka explained.

He noted that despite progress made through international partnerships, particularly the support of the Government of Egypt, Ghana continues to face significant gaps in hepatitis diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Adiiboka commended the Government of Egypt for collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to provide free hepatitis B and C medicines, a move he said has enabled thousands of Ghanaians to receive life-saving treatment.

"We have seen a significant impact from Egypt's support, and Ghana remains grateful for this important contribution to our hepatitis response," he said.

Despite these gains, he disclosed that Ghana is still far from achieving the World Health Organization (WHO) hepatitis elimination targets for 2030.

According to him, only about 9 percent of people living with chronic hepatitis B in Ghana have been diagnosed, while less than one percent are currently receiving treatment.

"This means that fewer than one in ten people diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B are on treatment. We are still far below the WHO targets of diagnosing 90 percent of infections and treating 80 percent of eligible patients by 2030," he stressed.

Dr. Adiiboka called for intensified public education, expanded community screening programmes, early diagnosis and improved access to treatment, emphasizing that increasing awareness remains one of the most effective strategies for preventing avoidable deaths from viral hepatitis.

He urged Ghanaians to take advantage of available hepatitis screening services, noting that early detection and timely treatment can prevent liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and other life-threatening complications while advancing the country's goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith