Member of Parliament for Effutu constituency Alexander Afenyo Markin says that over nine hundred individuals out of the 14, 000 who were screened for Hepatitis B with the Effutu enclave are being treated.
The Member of Parliament said he has already spent over two million Ghana cedis in the purchasing of vaccines and other logistics to test and treat the disease.
Afenyo Markin indicated that the silent killer in the Municipality is doing more harm hence the need for more attention on sensitizing constituents to the killer disease.
The Effutu MP also commissioned an ultra-modern office within the Effutu enclave to help in the testing and treatment of Hepatitis B.
Speaking at the opening of the office complex the MP indicated the stationary office will help constituents easily locate the medical team embarking on the screening for testing.
He noted that the team initially moved through the community embarking on the screening exercise.
“I am interested in the fight against the deadly Hepatitis B virus. The establishment of the office complex will help in the fight against the disease. Initially the Mumbies Foundation team go around testing and treating people but the establishment of the stationary office within the community will make it easier to be located by community members and possibly get tested,” the Effutu legislator told Citi News.
“Hepatitis B is more deadly than HIV and AIDS and it is about time we give it that attention. As a leader, it is a priority for me to ensure that my people are healthy especially the youth to support our economy. I will continue to encourage the youth to get tested. I have taken the cost of the vaccination so it shouldn’t be too much asking people to get tested,” the MP for Effutu noted.
The MP also cautioned against the use of herbal treatment of Hepatitis B indicating that he is not against the use of herbal treatment but added that the use of herbal treatment makes it difficult to monitor the dosage of medication among others.
“I am not against herbal treatment but all I am saying is that it makes it difficult to monitor the number of dosages neither would you know whether a particular herbal treatment is for the treatment of the virus. There was a situation where three individuals who tested positive decided to go for herbal treatment against the orthodox medication and have since passed on.
“I will also encourage my people to pick up positive lifestyles by exercising and eating well. These positive lifestyles sometimes help in the fight against the virus. I have been vaccinated and so is my family and close friends “the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu noted.
Medical Director and Consultant of the Trauma and Specialists Hospital Dr. Prah George Kwame called for a concerted effort in fighting the disease which is on the rise in the Effutu area thus calling on all to get tested.
“Getting tested and knowing your status makes it easier for you to be treated. The Hepatitis B virus is causing a lot of harm than good and the initiative by the MP is a step in the right direction thus must be supported by constituents and the only we can support is by getting tested. I have seen people die of this deadly disease and the harm it has caused to families and so we must give it the needed attention,” the Medical Director of the Trauma and Specialists Hospital emphasised.
The founder of Mumbies Foundation Ghana Israel Adorbley on his part expressed his commitment towards the gesture by the MP indicating his resolve to continue in the fight against the disease.
“We are committed to fighting this deadly disease as an organisation with support from the MP Alexander Afenyo Markin. He has already supported the fight with over two million Ghana cedis and is still ready to support us with more funds in fighting this deadly disease.
“Today with the help of the MP we have an office situated within the community making it easier for the people within the community to locate us and get tested. This gesture will aid in the testing and treatment of the disease since any member of the community can just walk in and get tested. This will also reduce the pressure from the hospitals within this enclave,” Israel Adorbley founder of the Mumbies Foundation said.