As part of activities to mark this year’s World Hepatitis B Day which falls on July 28, Ghana’s awardwinning hiplife artiste, Okyeame Kwame, will organize a free Hepatitis B screening exercise for 5000 people in Accra.
The programme, which is being organised by the Oyeame Kwame Foundation, has the support of benevolent organizations and individuals such as the MTN Ghana Foundation, the Ministry of Health, MDSLancet Laboratory at Dansoman and the Theobald Hepatitis B Foundation, among other allied bodies.
Speaking to BEATWAVES about the screening exercise, Okyeame Kwame said, “I am targeting over 5,000 people which will signify a marked improvement over the number of people I screened during my previous outreach campaigns.”
He disclosed that a mobile phone short code has been introduced to accept contributions towards the laudable project, adding, “To join the fight against Hepatitis B one can text HEP B to 1413 or MTN Moblie number 0549931993 to make a donation.”
The rapper also appealed to all corporate bodies and other NGOs to help in the fight against Hepatitis B and help save lives, especially those of young people, who happen to be the backbone of the country’s future.
Okyeame Kwame told BEAT WAVES that as part of his social responsibilities, he is paying his due to mother Ghana through his foundation to give free Hepatitis B testing and awareness to the public.
Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening blood borne disease of the liver, which is transmitted primarily by sexual activity or exposure to blood. About 20 percent of those infected progress to develop chronic liver disease.
He hinted that the awareness campaign which hopes to screen about 1,000 people in every region, would also give free medical counseling.
In 2010, the award-winning rapper screened about 3,000 people in Kumasi, Takoradi, Accra and Sunyani, during his ‘OK In Your Zone’ nationwide tour.
