Go for Hepatitis B test - Sherry Ayittey advises public
The Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey, has advised the public to go for periodic screening to establish whether or not they have the Hepatitis B virus (HBV).
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Such screening, she said, could help in the early detection of the virus and the treatment of the disease.
Addressing the commemoration of the 2013 World Hepatitis Day in Accra, Ms Ayittey said the only way to prevent the huge health, social and economic burdens associated with chronic viral hepatitis was through better public awareness, early diagnosis and better access to more effective treatment.
The theme for the celebration was: “This is Hepatitis-Know it. Confront it.”
Studies conducted in Ghana indicate that Hepatitis B is endemic in the country, with the prevalent rate ranging from 6.7 to 10 percent in blood donors; 6.4% in pregnant women and 15.6% in children.
Children can get infected from their mothers during childbirth. Other risk factors of Hepatitis B infection include transfusions, dialysis, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing and sharing razors or toothbrushes with infected persons.
It is, sometimes, characterised by sudden onset of general ill-health, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, body aches, mild fever and dark urine, which then progresses to the development of jaundice.
Ms Ayittey said the virus was 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV, hence the need for people to know their status and live healthily.
In its quest to sensitise the public to the disease, Ms Ayittey said the ministry was working in collaboration with four non-governmental organisations to help educate the public.
They are: the Save Your Liver Foundation, Theobald Hepatitis B Foundation, Hepatitis Society of Ghana (HEPSOG) and Okyeame Foundation.
This year’s World Hepatitis Day was marked in collaboration with Okyeame Foundation.
Dr Paul Sekyere-Nyantakyi, Chief Executive, MDS-Lancet Laboratories Ghana Limited, and his team that conducted the screening called on the public to seek early medical care.
The celebration of the day was sponsored by MTN Ghana Foundation, Japan Motors, Ghana Web and Vital Milk.
By Emmanuel Baah/Daily Graphic/Ghana
