NGO calls for control of Hepatitis ‘B’

Think Health, a health centered non-governmental organization, on Monday called for an inter-sector approach in controlling the spread of Hepatitis B.

Mr Richard Boahen, Executive Director of Think Health, said the devastating effects of the disease on the socio economic development of the country required well-coordinated and integrated methods to bring it under control.

Speaking to the GNA in an interview in Sunyani to commemorate this year’s World Hepatitis Day on Monday, Mr Boahen said public education on the disease was very low and the media ought to be supported to intensify it.

He said according to the World Health Organisation report, Hepatitis ‘B’ virus is “hundred times infectious than the HIV virus” and statistics showed that out of every 100 people tested, 13 of them tested positive.

Mr Boahen appealed to the Ministry of Health and its partners to be more proactive in stepping up efforts to control the disease.

He said because the disease was assuming alarming proportions, test ought to be conducted free of charge at all health facilities as a means of encouraging people to know their status.

Mr Boahen explained that when people knew their status on the disease, they would avoid unhealthy lifestyle that could make them to be infected while those tested positive could be put on drugs.

He said more than 780,000 people die annually while 240 million also have liver infections due to chronic consequences of Hepatitis ‘B’.