World Hepatitis Day, “This Is Hepatitis…” Know It, Confront It.

World Hepatitis Day is an annual event that each year provides internal focus for patient groups and people living with hepatitis B and C. It is an opportunity around which interested groups can raise awareness and influence real change in disease prevention and access to testing and treatment.

The World Hepatitis Alliance first launched World Hepatitis Day on 2008, and since then over 600 events has taken place around the World, generating massive public and media interest.

Following the World Health Assembly in May 2010, it was agreed that World hepatitis Day would be recognized annually on 28th July to celebrate the birth of the doctor who discovered hepatitis.

This is hepatitis…. Is the theme for the 2011 World hepatitis Day campaign and aims to tell the global human story of what viral hepatitis actually means – communicated by the people most closely affected by the diseases. The campaign theme is designed to tell the real-life stories of the effect that hepatitis B and C have on the lives of the 500 million people living with the diseases worldwide.

In Ghana, World hepatitis Day has been celebrated by Theobald Hepatitis B Foundation, Pharmaticeutical society of Ghana, Okyeame Kwame Foundation, save your Liver Foundation and Hepi-Pearl Foundation. This year World hepatitis Day is slated for the 28th of July at the freedom and Justice Park, Kwame Nkrumah Circle at 9 am. To celebrate the day in style, okyeame kwame will perform live; there will be free screening, counseling and education on hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by hepatitis B virus which develops to liver cancer.

55 percent of the Ghana population – are living with chronic hepatitis B or C. These diseases are more common than HIV/AIDS in the Ghana. Yet, because hepatitis B and C often present no symptoms, more people who have them are unaware until they develop liver cancer or liver disease many years later.

These diseases are not widely recognized as serious Public health problems, and as a result, that viral hepatitis prevention, control, and surveillance programs have inadequate resources.

The current approach to the prevention and control of chronic hepatitis B and C is not working.

Studies conducted by the World hepatitis Alliance in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that there is no government funding, no national hepatitis B and C policies and access to testing and treatment is very variable and across some regions both are extremely limited.

There should be public awareness and education and national policies on hepatitis B and C.

Government should provide funds for the fight against the hepatitis diseases.

My advice for Ghanaians is that they should go for Hepatitis B or C test to know their status.

Get Involved

For the campaign to be a success, we need as much support as possible! No matter who you are, what your interest is or how much or how little you feel you can contribute, we want to hear from you.

Credit: Mr. Theobald Owusu-Ansah

Board Member for the World hepatitis Alliance represents Africa Region

Director for the Hepatitis C Task Force in America represents Africa Region

Founder/President for the Theobald Hepatitis B Foundation in Ghana

Theobald2003@yahoo.com

020-8269214

The attached picture is Mr. Theobald Owusu-Ansah right and encouraged by Mr. Charles Gore, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance in the UK.