28th July is marked around the world as World Hepatitis Day. The day brings the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change.
Rapper and Hepatitis ambassador Okyeame Kwame with his OK Foundation partnered MDS-Lancet Laboratories and Black Nurses Association of Cincinnati to organize a hepatitis screening and vaccination at the LA Bawaleshie Presbyterian School Park.
Hepatitis B according to World Health Organization (WHO) is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
It is a major global health problem and can cause chronic infection and put people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. A vaccine against hepatitis B has been available since 1982.
The vaccine is 95% effective in preventing infection and the development of chronic disease and liver cancer due to hepatitis B.
Addressing the media Okyeame Kwame indicated that the main reason for raising awareness for the deadly disease was due to the overwhelming statistics by WHO on the number of people affected annually.
He noted that as a Ghanaian, he feels that it is important to get involved in creating the awareness towards the disease that seems to be claiming a lot of lives.
“Statistics are alarming. According to the World Health Organization one out of every six Ghanaians are exposed to the virus and that is very alarming, and we know that if we don’t rise up and brighten the small corners that we are Ghana will be dark. So this is our small contribution towards nation building in the area of health", he said.
The ‘Small small’ hit singer added that the goal of his Foundation is to test, screen and vaccinate a thousand people within the year, something he is keen to attain before the end of the year.
The Rap Doctor said he believed the awareness of Hepatitis B has gone up since he started eight years ago and because of that many more Ghanaians have taken the initiative to get tested and get screened on their own.
He said he was excited that the data they collate at such screenings go to support World Health Organization statistics on Hepatitis.
Okyeame Kwame added that he is hopeful of the total eradication of Hepatitis B by 2030 as stipulated by WHO and the World Hepatitis Alliance.
The screening and vaccination was well patronized by the people of LA Bawaleshie who trooped to the venue as early as 8am.
