Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the human liver. The virus has the tendency of scarring the liver and causing liver failure that could eventually lead to death. It is reported to be one of the most common cause of liver cancer
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) , the following are some of the ways of acquiring hepatitis B infections:
1. Through birth; a mother can pass the virus to the child during child birth or after delivery.
2. Sharing of razors , tooth brushes and sharps of an infected person.
3. Contact of blood, blood products, or open wound discharges of an infected person.
4. Having unprotected sexual intercourse or activities with an infected person.
Hepatitis B has no cure but there is treatment for it and the earlier you detect the virus, the better.
HOW DO I PROTECT MYSELF FROM HEPATITIS B VIRUS?
Answer: You need to first of all screen for hepatitis B virus by taking the hepatitis B test, and then get vaccinated with hepatitis B if tested negative.
HOW LONG WILL I TAKE THE VACCINE?
Answer: You are required to take 3 injections of the vaccine within Six (6) months. The schedule is as follows:
0 - this represent the very month you take the first injection.
1 - this is the second injection, it is taken 1 month after the first injection
6 - this is the last dose, it is taken on the sixth month from the first dose.
Example; if you take your first injection in January, the second would be February and the last would be June. Hope you got it right.
WHAT IF I TEST POSITIVE FOR HEPATITIS B?
When you test positive, your doctor will require you to do further test such as hepatitis B profile. Most adults immune system are able to fight the virus and build immunity within the first 6 months, meaning you can test positive initially but later test negative but after 6 months if you still test positive, it means you have chronic hepatitis.
You would also be asked to do liver function test and then, you would be put on medications to keep your liver safe and strong.
HOW LONG AM I PROTECTED IF I TAKE THE VACCINE
Protection depends on the number of antibodies your body produces after a complete vaccine schedule. Not everyone is able to produce the antibodies after taking the vaccine hence a test called *antibodies titres* is able to tell if you have enough protection. You do not need a doctor's prescription to do such test, just walk to any lab and you will be good to go. Protection after the 3 vaccines can take you more than 10 years but you will have to continuously check your antibodies titres.
Due to the infectious nature of the hepatitis B virus, he has decided to embark on a hepatitis B campaign and a free screening since it is more or less neglected though its a vaccine preventable disease. This exercise his philanthropic gesture to society in this season of love. Through the benevolence friends, family and some lecturers, he has procured 500 hepatitis B test strips and other necessary equipment to screen the people of Sandema in the Upper East Region on the 26th December, 2018.
This is indeed an attitude worth appreciating and emulating by students of the premier University and beyond.
_Details of student embarking on the project below_
Wisdom Ayinbono Apusiga
(Level 400, School of Nursing and Midwifery)
waapusiga@st.ug.edu.gh
0207463274/ 0241590717
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