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Duayaw-Nkwanta Records High Hepatitis B Cases

By Daily Guide
Health Duayaw-Nkwanta Records High Hepatitis B Cases
NOV 26, 2015 LISTEN

Duayaw-Nkwanta in the Tano North District of the Brong-Ahafo Region is reporting high numbers of hepatitis B cases.

Results from a free health screening exercise organised by Vodafone Ghana Foundation indicated that majority of the over 400 blood samples screened during the exercise contained the virus.

David Dorme, a physician assistant at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital, who led the exercise, said, 'Almost all the people who tested positive were unaware about their health condition.'

Mr Dorme mentioned that bad eating habit, alcoholism and smoking were some of the contributory factors to the spread of the disease in the area.

The physician assistant advised those who tested positive to eat more fruits, go for regular check-up and avoid eating at night.

He said vaccination and regular medical check-ups were the best way to guard against contracting the disease.

Mr Dorme observed that apart from hepatitis B, cases of hypertension were also high in the area.

Head of Vodafone Ghana Foundation, Nana Yaa Ofori-Koree, said the charitable arm of the telecom giant is poised to partner government to address living conditions of the vulnerable in society.

She pointed out that since the establishment of the foundation six year ago, more than 20,000 Ghanaians had benefited from the foundation's health programmes.

Mrs Ofori-Koree said the foundation offered ultra-scan to pregnant women in Eastern and Western Regions, as well as provided them free medication for specific ailments.

Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus.

It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic liver disease and chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.

More than 240 million people have chronic (long-term) liver infections. About 600, 000 people die every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B.

Most of the people infected with these viruses are unaware of their infection because viral hepatitis, particularly HBV, can persist for decades without symptoms.

A vaccine against hepatitis B has been available since 1982. Hepatitis B vaccine is 95% effective in preventing infection and its chronic consequences.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

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