Ghana is classified as one of the hepatitis B endemic countries in the world. This is because about seventeen percent of its total population is infected with the disease which has passed the threshold of eight percent.
Head of Department of Medicine at the Upper West Regional Hospital, Dr. Dominic Akaateba stated this during an interview with GBC NEWS at Wa in Upper West.
Dr. Akaateba who is a Physician Specialist said a lot of people are waiting to see symptoms of the disease before they go for screening.
He advised that people need to know their Hepatitis B status so that they are put on treatment if they are found to be positive.
Dr. Akaateba said those who do not have the disease can also be protected through vaccination.
The Physician Specialist warned people with the disease to desist from taking alcohol since that could worsen their plight.