'Rap Dacta' lends a hand

The “Rap Dacta” Okyeame Kwame has collaborated with the Hepatitis Society of Ghana, Save Your Liver Foundation and Theobald Hepatitis B Foundation, to observe World Hepatitis Day in Accra with a mass screening exercise.

The Okyeame Kwame Foundation has over the past few years been identified with a Hepatitis B awareness campaign. The campaign has involved free public screenings and follow-up advice on treatement. Last weekend’s commemoration of the 2013 World Hepatitis Day was under the theme,  “This is Hepatitis-Know it. Confront it.”  

Okyeame Kwame said that his involvement started four years ago when he and his wife went for a medical screening at a hospital, where he was asked to pay GHC40.

On realising the huge money one pays when going through hepatitis screening, he took it upon himself to ensure that the ordinary people who couldn’t afford were given free screening.

Dr Paul Sekyere-Nyantakyi (left), Chief Executive, MDS-Lancet Laboratories Ghana Limited and his team who took the people through free medical screening called on the public to seek early medical care.

According to him, all persons who undergone the screening exercise was first taken through pre-counselling by health psychologists, and would be taken through post-counselling after going through the exercise.

Dr Nyantakyi said that his team and the Okyeame Foundation have freely screened 5000 people since 2009, adding that 2000 people are expected to be screened as part of activities marking the 2013 World Hepatitis Day.

The Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey who attended the screening exercise urged the public to go in for screening. She said the virus which has characterised among the deadly diseases in the country should be given the needed attention to eradicate the virus.

Ms Ayittey said that the only way to prevent the huge health, social and economic burdens associated with chronic viral hepatitis will be through better public awareness, earlier diagnosis, and better access to more effective treatments.

The Minister said that the Ministry is fully committed to the campaign against the fight of the Hepatitis B Virus in the country.

The day was sponsored by MTN Ghana Foundation, Japan Motors, Ghana Web, and Vita Milk.

By Emmanuel Baah/Graphic Showbiz/Ghana