{
  "id": 910150,
  "title": "Ghana: Hepatitis B Linked to 75 Percent of Liver Cancer Cases in Ghana - Expert",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/ghana-hepatitis-b-linked-to-75-percent-of-liver-cancer-cases-in-ghana",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-14T20:57:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "AllAfrica Health",
    "slug": "allafrica-health",
    "url": "https://allafrica.com/stories/202608140570.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Three out of four liver cancer cases in Ghana are attributed to chronic hepatitis B infection, according to Dr Eileen Akonobea Micah, a Gastroenterologist. Most patients diagnosed with the disease are often in their prime years, seeking medical attention only after the cancer has progressed, leaving them eligible for palliative care that extends life by only three to six months. Dr Micah recounted the tragic case of two brothers in their late twenties who succumbed to liver cancer just three months apart, while two of their siblings are also living with hepatitis B and undergoing treatment. The World Hepatitis Day commemorated on July 28 aims to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, a leading cause of liver cancer and liver-related deaths worldwide. This year's theme, \"Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down,\" urges countries to remove barriers preventing people from accessing life-saving prevention, testing, and treatment services. Ghana has one of the highest liver cancer rates in Africa, with liver cancer ranking second among men and fourth among women, as reported by the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2024. Dr Micah called for decentralizing hepatitis B treatment, similar to the model for hepatitis C, to improve access to care and help Ghana achieve the WHO target of treating at least 80% of eligible hepatitis patients by 2030. She emphasized that early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in preventing liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and premature deaths linked to hepatitis B.",
  "summary": "[Ghanaian Times] About three out of every four liver cancer cases diagnosed in Ghana are linked to chronic hepatitis B infection, a Gastroenterologist, Dr Eileen Akonobea Micah, has disclosed.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}