The Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Professor Lydia Aziato, has called for stronger efforts to eliminate Hepatitis B and C, stressing that the diseases are preventable and treatable.
Speaking at an event in Ho to mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day, Professor Aziato said the availability of effective vaccines and treatments offers real hope for eliminating the disease, but only if more is done to raise awareness and improve access to care.
“We have the tools to eliminate hepatitis. But we need more awareness, better understanding of the risks, and easier access to testing and treatment, especially at the community level,” she said.
The forum was organised by the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) in collaboration with the Ghana Association for the Study of Liver and Digestive Diseases (GASLIDD). It was held under the theme “One Life, One Liver.”
Professor Aziato highlighted that with hepatitis now part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the adoption of a global strategy to tackle the disease, the time is ripe for action.
“This is a pivotal moment. Without urgent commitment and action, deaths will continue to rise, and the epidemic will worsen,” she warned.
She also expressed concern over gaps in vaccine coverage in some countries, noting that many hepatitis-related deaths can be avoided through safe injections, blood transfusions, and early treatments.
With COVID-19 no longer classified as a global health emergency, she said, “Now is the time to shift our focus and energy toward achieving a hepatitis-free world by 2030.”
Professor Aziato pointed to the significant drop in hepatitis B infections in children as evidence that progress is possible. However, she stressed the need to simplify hepatitis care, especially at the primary healthcare level.
“We must ensure that 90 percent of people with hepatitis B and C are diagnosed. All pregnant women living with hepatitis B should receive treatment, and their babies should get the birth-dose vaccine to prevent infection,” she said.
She added that 80 percent of those diagnosed should be treated or cured under the latest expanded guidelines.
Also speaking at the event, Professor Yaw Asante Awuku, President of GASLIDD, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) is pushing for global elimination of hepatitis by 2030.
He revealed that a recent screening exercise held by HTH and GASLIDD showed worrying results: out of 930 people screened, 10 percent tested positive for hepatitis B, and 2 percent for hepatitis C. On a positive note, 600 people were vaccinated during the exercise.
The forum brought together health professionals, students, and members of the public, all united in the call for stronger action against hepatitis.
