By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (VR), July 30, GNA-The Keta Municipal Health Directorate in the Volta Region has educated the public and created awareness about hepatitis on World Hepatitis Day, observed on Monday, July 28, 2025.
The target of the exercise was to create awareness about the causes, types, and prevention methods of hepatitis as well as the effects on individuals and communities.
Madam Dora Kugbonu, the Public Health Promotion Officer at Keta Health Directorate, in commemorating this year’s World Hepatitis Day, told the Ghana News Agency that, Hepatitis was a serious health condition characterised by inflammation of the liver which was often caused by viral infections.
“There are five main types of hepatitis viruses, which are A, B, C, D, and E and each type has different modes of transmission and can lead to varying degrees of liver damage,” she said.
She explained that hepatitis could be caused by viral infections, as well as other factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, toxins, and certain medications and the transmission of hepatitis viruses could also occur through contaminated food and water, blood-to-blood contact, and sexual contact.
She said that Hepatitis A and E were typically spread through contaminated food and water, while hepatitis B, C, and D are transmitted through blood-to-blood contact and other bodily fluids, and urged the public to as a matter of urgency visit the nearest health centre whenever they experience any strange feelings.
She said: “Prevention is key to reducing the risk of hepatitis and this can be achieved through early detection, vaccination, practicing good hygiene, avoiding sharing personal items, and using safe injection practices.”
Madam Kugbonu said that the hepatitis B vaccine was particularly important in preventing the transmission of the virus from a mother to child during birth and appealed to pregnant and lactating mothers to always report to hospital for screening and treatment.
She said that hepatitis may have significant effects on individuals and communities, including liver damage, cirrhosis, and liver cancer while chronic hepatitis B and C infections can also lead to severe liver damage and even death if left untreated.
She further noted that public education and awareness were critical in preventing the spread of hepatitis and understanding the causes, types, and prevention methods of hepatitis would help individuals to take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Madam Kugbonu said that the efforts by the Keta Municipal Health Directorate in educating the public on radio stations, community centres, among others about hepatitis were a step in the right direction to raise awareness and promote prevention methods to reduce the burden of hepatitis in the community.
She said that hepatitis B can be treated, hepatitis C can be cured and urged the public to get tested and protected through vaccination and encouraged that people living with hepatitis B could live a normal life like anyone else.
Other information GNA gathered revealed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has played a vital role in promoting awareness and education about hepatitis globally to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 and its resources and guidelines provided valuable support to healthcare professionals and communities across the globe.
GNA also gathered that about 6000 people were nearly infected with the viral hepatitis B and C each day, while only seven and 12.5 million people were treated for hepatitis B and C respectively out of 304 million people living with hepatitis across the world.
The public was advised to immediately report any form of unrest and sickness to the nearest healthcare centre and get screened to prevent any untoward circumstances.
The theme of this year’s World Hepatitis Day was, “Let’s Break it Down.”
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah