The Deputy Minister of Health designate, Hon. Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu Danquah, has called for intensified public health education on Hepatitis B and C, citing them as the leading causes of liver cancer in Ghana.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Dr. Ayensu Danquah emphasized the urgent need for awareness and early detection, noting that Hepatitis B alone affects more than 4.6 million people in Ghana—approximately 10.4% of the population. The disease claims around 14,000 lives annually.
“Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. It can either be acute and short-lived or develop into a chronic condition,” she explained. “It spreads through contact with infected body fluids such as blood, saliva, vaginal fluids, and semen, and can also be passed from mother to child during childbirth.”
Dr. Ayensu Danquah expressed deep concern over the high number of undiagnosed cases, warning that many Ghanaians living with the virus are unaware of their condition. “This is a serious cause for alarm,” she stated.
In response to the growing health threat, the government is preparing to introduce a birth-dose hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, which is expected to roll out beginning in 2026, pending the passage of the Free Primary Health Care Bill.
The Deputy Minister designate urged stakeholders, health professionals, and the media to support nationwide sensitization efforts to combat the silent spread of hepatitis and prevent further deaths.
By : Lawrence Appiani Yeboah