Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the founder and CEO of Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), an anti-corruption NGO based in Sunyani, has raised concerns about the low national coverage of the Hepatitis B Birth Dose (HepB-BD) vaccine for newborns in Ghana.
Citing World Health Organization statistics, Mr. Ahenu highlighted that despite the global availability of an effective vaccine, only about 16% of babies in Ghana receive the HepB-BD vaccine within 24 hours of birth.
He attributed this low coverage to several factors, including insufficient awareness, limited vaccine availability and accessibility, and the lack of integration of HepB-BD into routine immunization services.
Mr. Ahenu expressed these concerns during the launch of a new advocacy campaign by GloMeF aimed at increasing awareness and improving the vaccination coverage of Hepatitis B in Ghana.
He called for the inclusion of HepB-BD in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to ensure all newborns are vaccinated within 24 hours of birth.
The campaign, titled “Hepatitis-Free Ghana,” aims to boost vaccine coverage and ensure timely administration of the HepB-BD vaccine across the country.
Mr. Ahenu explained that this could be achieved through policy reforms, enhancing healthcare providers’ capacities, and raising public awareness.
The ultimate goal is to reduce mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B and contribute to eliminating the virus by 2030.
He emphasized that the absence of a national policy mandating the administration of HepB-BD exacerbates the situation, putting many babies at risk of perinatal transmission.
Mr. Ahenu argued that advocacy on HepB-BD vaccination is crucial for addressing the high rates of Hepatitis B infection in Ghana and that integrating the vaccine into the EPI is essential for ensuring all newborns are vaccinated within 24 hours of birth.
Achieving this goal would require the collective efforts of key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, healthcare providers, traditional and religious leaders, and civil society organizations, to raise awareness, allocate resources, and prioritize the vaccine’s integration into routine immunization schedules.
Mr. Clement Boateng, GloMeF’s Country Director, underscored the serious public health threat posed by Hepatitis B, noting that the viral disease contributes to chronic cancers, related illnesses, and premature deaths.
He pointed out that Hepatitis B infections acquired in infancy or early childhood are more likely to become chronic, with up to 90% of infected babies developing lifelong infections.
Preventing Hepatitis B infections and transmissions at birth is crucial for reducing the overall burden of the disease in Ghana.
Mr. Boateng explained that the advocacy campaign would raise public awareness and demand for the HepB-BD vaccine by reaching at least one million people nationwide, including expectant mothers and caregivers, with information about the disease’s prevention and the benefits of the birth dose.
This outreach effort will be achieved through various activities, including community-based forums, screening exercises, mass media campaigns, church-to-church initiatives, school education programs, and partnerships with local organizations.
The Ghana Partnership Against Hepatitis (GPAH), a consortium of local organizations across all 16 regions of Ghana, will be implementing the advocacy campaign, Mr. Boateng added.
