KATH Marks World Hepatitis Day with Free Screening for over 250 People
Over 250 members of the public have benefited from free Hepatitis B screening as part of activities organised by the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit of the Medicine Directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to mark World Hepatitis Day.
Of the 257 persons who took advantage of the free screening exercise carried out in collaboration with the Public Health Unit of the hospital, 11 tested positive for Hepatitis B and were referred to the unit for treatment while 101 of those who tested negative were vaccinated against the disease at a subsidized cost of Thirty Ghana Cedis.
In an interview, Dr. Mrs. Eileen Micah, Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, pointed out that hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a variety of infectious viruses and noninfectious agents which could lead to a range of potentially fatal health problems.
She explained that there are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. “While they all cause liver disease, they differ in a number of ways including modes of transmission, severity of illness, geographical distribution and prevention methods” she noted.
Dr. Mrs. Eileen Micah said the best way to have a long and healthy life is to have a healthy liver and this can be achieved through testing, early vaccination when negative and treatment when positive. “Unfortunately, globally, overwhelming majority of the people living with viral hepatitis do not know they have it resulting in the late reporting of cases and preventable deaths among sufferers”, she revealed.
Dr. Mrs. Micah, therefore, advised members of the public to visit the hospital to be tested as treatment is available if one was to test positive.
She thanked management of the hospital and other partners including Roche Pharmaceutical Company, Mega Life Sciences and Ghana Association for the Study of Liver and Digestive Diseases (GASLIDD) for sponsoring this year’s World Hepatitis Day’s celebrations.
A beneficiary, Madam Vida Opare, was full of praise to the hospital for the education, the free screening and subsidized vaccinations. “This is my first time of undergoing this screening and testing, and am really glad I did. The doctors gave detailed explanation on what the illness is all about and I have decided to do this test regularly to avoid it”.
