Public urged to test for hepatitis

Accra, Sept. 28, GNA -- The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) on Thursday asked the public to get tested for hepatitis saying there are new and effective treatments for both hepatitis B and C in the country.

In a statement to mark International World Hepatitis Day, which falls on Sunday, October 1, the Society noted that controlling hepatitis posed a great challenge to the nation this century as the number of people developing serious lever disease as a result of these viral infections continued to rise.

This year's celebration is under the theme: 93Get Tested.=94 It said while it recognised that there were a number of claims by herbal medications to treat the condition, which had not been validated, there were new effective treatments for both hepatitis B and C in the country.

It said the Society was concerned about the lack of awareness among health professionals and the general public and was, therefore, observing the day with the objective of promoting awareness and to urge people to get tested and for those infected to go for treatment. The day also has the objective of urging laboratory technologists and blood banks to refer infected patients to treatment centres; and appeal to the Government, organisations and private health insurance schemes to bear the cost of treatment of hepatitis B and C infection. The Society said several health centres had information on testing, vaccination and treatment.

These include Nyaho Medical Centre; Akai House Clinic, Osu; Port Medical Centre, Tema; Holy Trinity Medical Centre, Kaneshie and Trust Hospital, Osu.

The rest are Atasemanso Clinic, Kumasi; Peace and Love Clinic, Oduom, Kumasi; Gastro Clinic, Korle-Bu, Accra and Lister Hospital, Spintex Road, Accra.

The World Health Organisation, which monitors the current worldwide hepatitis, estimates that about 180 million people around the globe are infected with the hepatitis C virus, while a further 400 million suffer from chronic hepatitis B infection.

In 1991, the WHO called for all children to receive the hepatitis B vaccine and 116 countries, including Ghana, have added it to their routine immunization programmes. There is no hepatitis C vaccine as yet.