A Renal Nurse Specialist at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, GPHA Hospital in Takoradi, Amos Kwaku Azidor has advised Ghanaians to get tested, as well as go in to vaccinate for Hepatitis B as the World marks Hepatitis B Day.
” I will encourage our listeners to get tested and know their status for Hepatitis B. If you know your status then you get immunized. There are vaccines for the general public to get immunized against this infectious disease,” He said.
Hepatitis is a distinct infection collectively referred to as viral hepatitis and it denotes liver inflammation primarily caused by hepatotropic viruses, resulting in similar clinical presentations.
This year’s commemoration is on the global and local theme, ” One life, one liver” representing the calls to action for people to protect their livers through a healthy lifestyle.
According to him, hepatitis infections are on the high because much focus is not put on it.
Hepatitis A, B, and C are viral whilst Hepatitis D and E are communicable.
Mr Azidor further stated hepatitis is spread when a person who is not immune comes in contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person.
He called on persons who come in contact with a lot of people especially, food joint operators to get vaccinated to prevent outbreaks of the disease.
” People who work in food joints, and hospitals, and those who deal with mass people should get vaccinated to curb outbreaks in such environments.
If you’re positive, there is treatment for hepatitis B,” Mr Azidor added.
Meanwhile, the Director General of GHS, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said interventions put in place to address the growing hepatitis prevalence locally included collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund to implement a triple elimination of Hepatitis B, along with HIV and Syphilis.
