CEDAKU FOUNDATION OF GHANA

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis is a global epidemic but little is known of its symptoms, prevention, complication and the great dangers it pose to this generation and the unborn generations. Government and other development partners have always taken matters like this flippant thereby fueling viral hepatitis which is on the increase.

This year world hepatitis day is a very important period for our government and other actors to play their own part most especially with the theme of 2016. “Elimination of Hepatitis” which is calling on the various stakeholders to play a very important role to see that viral hepatitis is controlled. The activities to mark world hepatitis day in Ghana – Volta Region (Ho).

PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES

Advocacy

In other for Cedaku Foundation of Ghana to also be a key player in actualizing the theme of this year 2016, it sent letters and carried out Advocacy to relevance

government ministries, development partners, community leaders, politicians, pharmaceutical stores, hospital boards and other private companies. In these entire advocacies, key messages were sent and emphases were made to educate them and the need to support program on viral hepatitis.

In spite of the financial challenges experienced by those organizations we visited, yet we have

been able to passed relevant information on the need to always support program on hepatitis such as awareness creation and a host of other activities that will aim at reducing the prevalence of viral hepatitis.

In other to also effectively achieve our goal Cedaku Foundation of Ghana had planned in reaching out to about 500 people with free hepatitis B and C screening. Advocacy visit was paid to Pastor of Christian Assembly church to seek for their consent to carry out the free screening in the church for both the community and the church. Media being an important tool in reaching out to wider communities were part of the campaign and they gave a wider coverage of the program as part of existing partnership to raise massive awareness to the general public on menace of viral hepatitis.Other collaborative efforts were also made with the Medical Laboratory Scientists, MedicalDoctors, Nurses, professionals’ bodies in Ho in the Volta Region.Free Hepatitis B and C Screening and Vaccination at Christian Assembly Church ,Ho

On the 30th July, 2016 (Saturday), as part the activities to mark the year 2014 World Hepatitis Day on a theme: Elimination of Hepatitis as outlined by Cedaku Foundation of Ghana, we began with free screening of Hepatitis B & C started at about 8:30 am with an opening prayer from one of the participants where all Cedaku Foundation of Ghana volunteers, Media (Kekeli Fm ,Volta Star Radio and Cuul Fm),Medical Team were at the site to carry out the intended planned activities to mark World Hepatitis Day in Ho . Registration of participants followed up for participants who gathered to benefit from the free hepatitis B and C test. After which an identification code were given to each beneficial at the registration desks where all the necessary data were collected for proper documentation and labeling of Vacuum Tube containers were made to avoid mistakes and to keep to standard practices. After being registered, beneficiaries proceeded to the screening table to access the free screening.

Briefing was made to the participants on hepatitis and the need to be tested by the Chief Executive Officer in person Mr. Cecil Kwaku Dovia. Physicians who were to educate the participants were introduced and hence took over from the CEO. The PRO of CEDAKU; Mr. Francis Papa spoke on what Hepatitis is, mode of transmission and preventive measures. He explained that Hepatitis is the inflammation of the Liver, usually from a viral infection, but sometimes from toxic agents. He further explained that we have different types of Hepatitis;. Due to the language barrier, Dr. Lotsu Patrick interpreted all that the PRO said in Ewe to help the deeper understanding of the education that was going on.

Mr. Isaac Asirifi Gunu, a student of UHAS who happens to be a Hepatitis patient was given the opportunity to talk to the participants present about how he was coping. Questions were asked for which expected answers were given.

The testing, counseling and vaccination continued until 1:23pm when volunteers went for break.

At exactly 1:50 pm, Volunteers started work by attending to the rest of the participants. Since there were other participants who were not around for the initial education in the morning; Dr Philip Afun re-enacted the education .The testing counseling and vaccination was going on as well. The assemblyman (Mr. Bruce Anthony) and the Community Leaders for the Wusu Street area paid a courtesy call on the volunteers and the participants. He expressed his gratitude to the Cedaku Foundation of Ghana for the kind gesture and the participants for turning up in their numbers. He admonished the participants to take the health screening seriously. He further encouraged the participants to accept whatever the results might be and act accordingly.

The collected samples were screened for Hepatitis B and C after which there were briefed as to the important of vaccination for those that tested negative for HBsAg were Vaccinated, result slips were given to them while for those that tested positive for either Hepatitis B and C or both were addressed and further referrals was given to access further test in BestLab or Government facilities.

A total number of 500 participant at Christian Assembly Church whom were tested, 22 tested

positive for hepatitis B while non tested positive for hepatitis C. Media present conducted an interview on the Chief Executive Officer on the importance and why Cedaku Foundation of Ghana carried out this exercise. Target and direct beneficiaries of program were also interviewed. The health screening came to a close at exactly 5:07pm.

The Success Information

This year World Hepatitis Day was indeed one of the best Cedaku Foundation of Ghana has ever carried out, because our target groups/public were reached and the purpose was attained (objectives and goals). Large populations turn out for the free screening unlike other years where people were not willing as a result of ignorance of viral hepatitis.

Findings

With little or no resource mobilization from individuals’ contribution of the unemployed youth and other community members, implementations of this year World Hepatitis Day was made possible. Laudable of mentioning is the fact that in other years World Hepatitis Day honor, vaccines were not always available at the site of the program due to it unavailability but this year

World Hepatitis Day, vaccines were made available for free for the beneficiaries.

As the time of compiling/writing this report, there are people still visiting our office on daily basis to be tested for Hepatitis B and C and vaccinate were given.

Key Challenges

1. Limited financial resources to meet up the target of screening seven hundred people, offering free vaccination, print stickers, and other printable IEC materials.

2. Negligence and lack of good will support for hepatitis program.

3. Non availability of Affordable drugs to the infected patients to kick start their treatment.