Okyeame Kwame Foundation to partner Roche

Since 2009, the Okyeame Kwame Foundation has been providing free hepatitis screening and vaccination to the general public. The nationwide screening and vaccination exercise has taken place in a number of venues including Accra, Tamale, Takoradi, Sunyani and Kumasi being the latest. Close to seven thousand people have been screened and vaccinated against the hepatitis disease since the exercise started. Those who tested positive were also advised on control measures to live a healthy life.

However, the big question still hovers on; what assistance could be given to those tested positive to combat the disease? Since the nationwide screening and vaccination exercise started, many have taken to twitter, facebook and other social media sites, asking this question against the backdrop of high cost of purchasing the control drug.

This year, the foundation announces its preparedness to partner Roche Ghana Ltd. and other health institutions to impress on government to reduce import duties on hepatitis drug. This is to help reduce the cost and the price to make it affordable to all Ghanaians.

Speaking to the media, Okyeame Kwame said ‘’I strongly believe that the Ministry of Health has already shown a lot of concern to helping hepatitis patients through their advocacy and outreach programs and would do everything possible to support them.’’

The Country Manager of Roche Ghana, Olufemi Lawson also expressed the organization’s readiness to partner the Okyeame Kwame Foundation and other health institutions towards working to eradicate hepatitis in the country. In a speech delivered by him at the launch of the hepatitis policy document at GNAT hall in Accra, he also disclosed that ‘’we are ready with the approval of the Ministry of Health to work with the Ghana Health Service and National Health Insurance Authority to develop cost effective and sustainable solutions for the treatment of the already infected while we continue to raise awareness to reduce future infections.’’