Hepatitis B on the increase

Hepatitis B, a type of communicable diseases, is said to have contributed to about 16% of ante-natal cases recorded at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

The women who tested positive are therefore undergoing counselling and treatment as a measure to manage the disease and prevent mother-to-child transmission.

Mr. Patrick Asante-Kumah, the Western Regional Chairman of the Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists, said this at a Hepatitis B screening exercise as part of activities marking International Laboratory Day.

The day is being celebrated across the globe under the theme: “The Role of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists in the Global Management of Communicable Diseases”.

Mr. Asante-Kumah said the disease is now leading all the communicable diseases and pregnant women were particularly at risk due to its infectious nature.

The Type B Hepatitis has a similarity to HIV/AIDS which is also not curable but manageable, the former however has a vaccine which could protect an individual from getting infected.

Mr Asante-Kumah added that the same body fluid which comes in the form of vagina excretion, sperm, saliva, needle prick and sharing of razor blades, spoons and other items with infected persons as in the case of HIV/AIDs are those which also transmit Hepatitis B.

Source: GNA