More than 15,000 Ghanaians lost their lives to chronic hepatitis B and C-related liver diseases in 2022, Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, Director General of Ghana Health Service, has revealed.
This according to him, translates to approximately 42 deaths every day, predominantly affecting young adults who suffer from liver failure and cancer.
He said this at this year’s Ghana Hepatitis Stakeholders Conference held in Accra yesterday.
Dr Aboagye said the significant burden of chronic hepatitis B and C in the country, with a notably higher prevalence in the northern regions compared to the south. However, he said many cases remain undiagnosed due to low testing capacity and inadequate reporting systems.
“As a result, a large portion of the population is unaware of their infection status, complicating treatment efforts so there is urgent need for increased awareness and improved healthcare access,” he said.