While Egypt and Ghana have been collaborating on this front since 2022, this recent donation of 9,500 doses (valued at approximately $80,000) marks a continued commitment to regional health sovereignty.
The timing is particularly notable because Egypt became the first country in the world to achieve the WHO “Gold Tier” status for hepatitis C elimination in 2024. They are now actively exporting that success to the rest of the continent.
This donation supports a broader project launched in 2023. Egypt previously pledged enough medicine to treat 50,000 Ghanaians for free, aiming to help Ghana meet its goal of eliminating the disease by 2030.
As noted by Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, this “South-South” cooperation is vital as traditional foreign aid declines. It emphasizes African nations solving African problems.
The partnership includes training for Ghanaian health experts and discussions on establishing local vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing in Ghana to reduce dependence on external imports.
Hepatitis C is a “silent killer” that often leads to liver cirrhosis or cancer if left untreated. For years, the cost of treatment was a major barrier in Ghana. By providing these doses for free, the program removes the $1,000+ per-patient cost that previously made treatment inaccessible for many.
