The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in the Western Region recorded 2,829 suspected cases of hepatitis B in 2015, out of which 268 were confirmed. Out of the number, one person died.
Statistics on the disease from January to June 2016 also revealed that 1,071 cases of hepatitis B were recorded, out of which 121 were confirmed, while one person has died of the disease within the period, bringing the number of dead persons of the disease to two.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and has five main types commonly seen globally, including hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
Yaa Pokua Baiden, Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), Western Region, who disclosed to DAILY GUIDE in an interview, advised all Ghanaians to get tested and vaccinated against hepatitis B.
This was during a free screening and counselling on the disease held at Kwesimintsim in the metropolis on Friday to mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day, which is celebrated on July 28 every year.
It was organised by the Western regional branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH).
The event was on the theme: ‘Know Hepatitis, Act Now’, and was aimed at creating awareness about the disease.
According to her, most people are not aware of the disease, adding, “Even if people are aware, they have not been vaccinated for protection.”
Mrs Baiden, therefore, called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to educate and vaccinate the citizenry against the disease.
“As pharmacists, we have the obligation to educate the public on the relevance of testing and early recognition of symptoms,” she stressed.
Explaining the mode of transmission, the chairperson of the regional PSGH pointed out that a person can be infected with hepatitis A and E through contaminated food and water, while hepatitis B and C is commonly spread through direct contact with blood of a person who had the disease.
“If the virus is not detected early, it becomes a chronic hepatitis which affects the liver and results in cancer and inflammation of the liver,” she indicated.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Kwesimitsim