Various surveys conducted in Ghana indicate that Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is endemic in Ghana, with prevalence rates ranging from 6.7% to 10% in blood donors, 6.4% in pregnant women and 15.6% in children.
Further studies show the prevalence rate of Hepatitis B among pregnant women in Accra increased from 6.4% in 1994 to 10.5% in 2005.
Recent studies have also shown Hepatitis C Virus sero-prevalence rates of 2.8% to 5.4% in Ghana.
The sero-prevalence of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is between 1.3% and 8.4% among children in a rural district in Ghana and 2.5% among parturient in Ghana.
These statistics were highlighted during the launch of a National Policy on Viral Hepatitis Control.
The policy direction is to establish viral hepatitis surveillance system capable of detecting, confirming and managing all hepatitis cases in Ghana and responding to any hepatitis outbreak.
Dr Badu Sarkodie, Director of the Public Health Division of the Ghana Health Service, explained that Hepatitis B, C and D are transmitted sexually while Hepatitis A and B are transmitted through person-to-person contact, as well as eating and drinking contaminated food and water.
He said the policy is, therefore, documented to guide and educate people about the hepatitis virus.
The policy, he stated, will be accessible to all stakeholders in the health sector to help fight the hepatitis menace in the country.
In a related development, World Hepatitis Day was launched to educate people about the symptoms and prevention of the deadly virus.
A hepatitis ambassador in Ghana, Kwame Nsiah Apau, a.k.a. Okyeame Quame, applauded the organisers for the concept.
He emphasised that the virus is deadly, adding that Ghanaians must take precaution to avoid it.
He urged the various media organisations in the country to use their platform to educate people on the deadly disease.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by specific virus that primarily attacks the liver. The common types of viral hepatitis are Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
The launch of the World Hepatitis Day 2015 was under the theme ‘Prevent Viral Hepatitis, know your risk, act now.’
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