Ghanaian musician and health advocate, Okyeame Kwame, has called for sustained media engagement and stronger partnerships to combat Hepatitis in Ghana.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Wednesday July 23, he emphasised the need for a consistent, nationwide awareness campaign, noting that the global target is to eliminate Hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
According to him, addressing the Hepatitis burden requires more than occasional campaigns tied to annual events which he described as a “fire service” approach.
He further called for the development of a year-round strategy and the review of Ghana’s current Hepatitis policy, which he believes is outdated.
“To help the WHO communicate Hepatitis conversation properly, we need the media and we do not have to use this same ‘fire service’ strategy where once the happens in July, we all come and quench it and go back to our businesses.
“So we need a year roll-out plan. The Hepatitis policy that we have in Ghana also about six years ago, I think it is getting old. We need to revamp it. We need a new policy document. We need government to show a bit more interest. But I think that currently what we need is to forge a bit more media partner,” he stated.
Okyeame Kwame has been a dedicated advocate for Hepatitis awareness, consistently using his platform to promote education, encourage testing, and improve access to treatment nationwide.
As part of his efforts, he is funding a Hepatitis B screening and vaccination exercise scheduled to take place on July 25 at Kasoa Old Station
BY JULIANA ODAME ASARE
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