Noguchi memorial institute, the Madina Health Directotate of the Ghana health service , Mds lancet laboratories and the okyeame kwame foundation have collaborated this year to celebrate world hepatitis day with with an inter-Schools health quiz , thirty day social media campaign with infographics and a public health screening for malaria and hepatitis B and C, and vaccination against hepatitis B.
The health quiz was organized in the Ayawaso west Municipality and schools were grouped into Abelemkpe and Roman Ridge zones .Students were given comprehensive information about hepatitis and general health information and asked to prepare before the competition commenced. Espo Best Child JHS emerged as the winners and received Cash Prize and a trophy. The three runners up also received cash prizes. This process started from 6th July and ended on the 21st July . About 600 students participated in the competition under the co-supervision of the Municipal Director of Education .
On 28th July, the health screening and vaccination exercise took place at Madina Market, specifically at the STC yard where hundreds of people gathered to participate in the celebration.
Participants were given pre-test counseling before the signing of a consent form and registration. After this, a phlebotomist took their blood samples and participants were asked questions to assess their knowledge of how hepatitis is contracted and how it can be prevented. They answered questions about lifestyle choices and family history . When the test results were ready , they were given to participants who also benefited from post-test counseling, whether they have tested positive or negative. The ones who tested positive were advised to see a doctor at the liver clinic at legon hospital whiles the negatives received the first shot of vaccination and were given a yellow vaccination card that indicate the date for second and third shots at either Madina or Legon hospital.
Some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were Doctor Priscilla Anima-Poku the municipal health director , professor Joseph Kofi Bonney and Professor Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi of Noguchi, Okyeame kwame the rap doctor ,Dr.Samuel Nuamah, Director, Public Health Alliance International Ghana , Marsha D. Thomas, Dr. Shirley Evers-Manly of National Black nurses association, Rodney Boatey managing director of Excelsior Global , Agnes Baffoe who is Client Services manager at Mds-lancet and many volunteers.
A total number 438 people were screened and about 8 percent tested positive with the rest getting their free vaccination.
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the leading research center for Medical research , MDS-Lancet laboratories, the leading private medical laboratory in Ghana with ISO 15189 accreditation and Okyeame Kwame Foundation, an NGO championing advocacy in health , wellness and climate change collaborated for this event .
Sponsors were
Anglo Gold Ashanti
The HEPMAL project based at Noguchi
Ghana Chamber of mines
East Cantoments Pharmacy LTD.
Crescent Chemist
Excelsior Global limited
West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP)
Mr. James Akwetea-Foli
and the black American Association of Nurses.
Interested individuals can arrange and visit the Noguchi Memorial Institute for free hepatitis screening and vaccination through out the year
