At the 69th World Health Assembly in 2016, every government in the world committed to eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. As the 10-year count-down to 2030 commences, we wish to bring to the attention of the government of Ghana to keep the promise. Although we commend successive governments for their show of leadership in creating a national viral Hepatitis control programme and developing a national Hepatitis guideline, these initiatives must be well-financed to scale up the response.
Despite the numerous calls on successive governments to include a Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine in the Expanded Programme of Immunisation over the past years, little or no political commitment has been seen. Till date, the vulnerability of newborns to Hepatitis B infection remains high and mother to newborn transmission of Hepatitis B still occurs in Ghana. It is however disconcerting that our inaction as a country is contributing to preventable hepatitis-related complications and death of innocent newborns.
As Ghana joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Hepatitis Day on 28th July 2020, we want to reiterate our position that “newborn lives matter” and therefore action to reform health policy particularly the funding of hepatitis services and prevention of mother to child transmission deserve the needed attention.
Signed,
Charles Ampong Adjei [Public Health Specialist/Hepatitis Researcher/Executive Director, Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana] Phone No.: 0244712071
