The 2026 World Hepatitis Day was held at the Garrison Methodist/ Presbyterian Church at Burma Camp on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 on the theme ‘’Hepatitis,  let’s break it down’’.
World Hepatitis day is observed every year on July 28 to raise awareness about the viral hepatitis, promote prevention, encourage testing and treatment, and reduce the global burden of liver disease. The day marks the birthday of Baruch Samuel Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed the first hepatitis B vaccine.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by viruses, although it can also result from alcohol misuse, certain medications, toxins or autoimmune diseases. There are five main types of viral hepatitis such as the Hepatitis A, B C, D and E.
Speaking on this year’s theme ‘’Hepatitis, let’s break it down’’, the Commander of the 37 Military Hospital Brig Gen Richard Lassey Mensah stated that the celebration of the Global World Hepatitis day is a call to break down the barriers of ignorance, stigma, the chains of transmission, the burden of liver diseases among personnel, their families and the nation at large.
‘’Globally, over 300 million people live with hepatitis B or C, and 1.1 million people die every year from liver diseases caused by viral hepatitis. In Africa, 1 in 12 people live with hepatitis B that is, one of the highest burdens in the world. In Ghana, an estimated 12-15 percent of Ghanaians are infected with hepatitis B, and about 3 percent with hepatitis C. Most infections occur at birth or in childhood, but adult transmission through unsafe medical procedures and sexual contact remains a major challenge, ‘’ he emphasized.
Brig Gen Mensah indicated that, in the Ghana Armed Forces, the unique environment increases exposure such as deployments, surgical procedures, needle-stick injuries especially in the medical setting, close living in barracks, and other practices put personnel and their families at risk.
He added that breaking down barriers through free screening, education, and counselling for personnel, dependents can help prevent the transmission of the diseases as well as promoting Hepatitis B vaccination and added that the vaccine is 95 percent effective and  that three doses provide lifetime protection.
The Commander stressed that the stigma can be eliminated by ensuring that testing is confidential and seeking care is seen as a sign of strength and responsibility. He urged personnel and their families to know their status because screening is quick, free, and confidential, early detection saves lives, protect your liver, protect your family.
The Officer in charge of the 37 Military Hospital Public Health division Capt (GN) Harriet Manu said that the celebration of the day was to raise awareness of the viral Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. And also, to encourage people to protect their health and together, the chain of Hepatitis can be broken.
A Public Health specialist Dr Ewura Adjoa Nunoo made a presentation of the viral Hepatitis and said that in Ghana, hepatitis B is the most common one that is known and is mostly transmitted from mother to child, people with liver problems, through needle prick, people with multiple sexual partners and tattooing of the body.
She mentioned that the Hepaitis A and E can be transmitted orally through contaminated food and water whiles the hepatitis B, C and D is transmitted through body fluid and blood products. She noted that early detection can be treated and advised all to take the vaccine.
A free screening exercise was done for personnel and their families.
In attendance during the program were the wife of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Patience Dzifa Adeti-Gbetanu, Public Health Specialist Dr Philip Nyinaku, some public health personnel of the hospital, families of personnel, Defence Civilian Staff and students of the Ghana Armed Forces Senior High School.
