Hepatitis B more deadly than HIV/AIDS

Accra, Feb. 29, GNA - Mr Stephen Gabson-Nuworkpor, Health official with the Charity Medical Team, a non-governmental organization that educates the public on pertinent health issues has pointed out that the Hepatitis B disease was more deadly than HIV/AIDS. Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver which results from the secretion of fluids in the body. These fluids include saliva, sweat, and mucus in addition to blood.

He noted that everybody was at risk of contracting the disease because of the nature of the disease and explained that it was even possible for someone to contract the disease in the commercial vehicles (tro-tro) where there could be someone sweating profusely sitting by him or her. Mr Gabson-Nuworkpor was part of a medical team that paid a working visit the Ghana News Agency to screen the staff for Hepatitis B, Diabetes, Blood Pressure and the check of Body Mass Index. The Health Screening exercise was coordinated by the GNA Ladies Association.

Mr Gabson-Nuworkpor pointed out that Hepatitis B could cause a permanent scar on the liver. It could also result in liver transplant and liver cancer when it is not diagnosed early. He said Hepatitis B had caused an increase of mortality in Africa and urged people to go for the test to enable them to know their status and manage the disease should they be affected.

Mr Samuel Serlorm Samsel, Chairman of the Team, who also talked about diabetes and High Blood Pressure said the aim of the screening was to asses the health status of people and look for predisposing conditions that could lead to major health complication later in life and to help them seek immediate treatment should the need arise. Workers were taken through one on one counselling about their health status.