Ghana is poised to implement a long-awaited public health measure aimed at curbing the spread of Hepatitis B by rolling out the birth dose vaccine for all newborns by the end of 2025.
This decision marks a significant step in the country’s ongoing battle against Hepatitis B, a viral infection that remains a leading cause of liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, with devastating consequences.
For more than two decades, Hepatitis B has remained a critical public health issue in Ghana.
Approximately 2.8 million Ghanaians are living with Hepatitis B, and it is estimated that 14,000 deaths annually are linked to the virus.
A major concern has been the transmission of Hepatitis B from mother to child during birth, with many women unaware of their status until after delivery.
Hepatitis B can be transmitted during childbirth, making the immediate vaccination of newborns crucial to preventing the virus from taking hold.
Historically, children in Ghana were not vaccinated against Hepatitis B until they reached six weeks old.
This delay, however, left newborns vulnerable to the virus before they could receive their first dose, as mothers were often unaware of their own Hepatitis B status at the time of delivery. Experts have long argued that vaccinating at birth, rather than waiting until the child is six weeks old, is essential to preventing vertical transmission of the virus.
Importance of Birth Dose
The introduction of the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine is a critical intervention in the fight against the virus.
Studies have shown that administering the birth dose vaccine can reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission by as much as 90%. This is especially important in Ghana, where Hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis, two life-threatening conditions.
Dr. Amoako Duah, a consultant gastroenterologist at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, has been an outspoken advocate for better management and treatment of Hepatitis B in the country.
He stressed the need for the disease to receive greater attention, noting that Hepatitis B and C are responsible for about 90% of liver cancer cases.
According to Dr. Duah, the survival rate for liver cancer is alarmingly low, with most patients living only a few months after diagnosis.
Despite the severity of the situation, Hepatitis B has not garnered the same level of attention as other diseases such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.
Dr. Duah called for the inclusion of Hepatitis B management under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make treatment more accessible to the population.
Government Efforts
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has recognized the need for a more aggressive approach to fighting Hepatitis B and is set to roll out the birth dose vaccine by the end of 2025.
Dr. Kwame Amponsa Achianno, the program manager for the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) at GHS, confirmed that efforts are already underway to introduce the vaccine.
He stated, “We know that to complete the cycle of prevention, you need to protect the newborns as soon as they are born.”
The Ghanaian government is being supported in this initiative by GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, which has provided financial and technical support for the vaccine’s introduction.
-BY DANIEL BAMPOE
