Mumbies Foundation Ghana has officially been launched in Effutu constituency of the Central Region.
The Foundation is an NGO registered in Ghana that is dedicated to help break the cycle of mother to child transmission of Hepatitis B in rural communities in Effutu and beyond.
The NGO’s vision is to create a Hepatitis B free future for Effutu.
Read the full speech of the Founder, Mr. Israel Adorbley below:
A SPEECH BY ISRAEL ADORBLEY (FOUNDER) AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF MUMBIES FOUNDATION GHANA AND WORLD HEPATITIS DAY 2022 CELEBRATION.
Mr Chairman, The Paramount Chief of Effutu, Nana Nenyi Ghartey, Nananom, The MCE of Effutu, Hon. Zubairu Kassim, Chief Imam of Effutu, Mohammed Issah, The Medical Supt. of the Winneba Municipal hospital, Dr. Akwesi Bota, Executives and Board Members of The Mumbies Foundation Ghana, Parents, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure indeed to welcome you all to the official launch of Mumbies Foundation Ghana.
As the project manager of the Mumbies Foundation Ghana and an active belligerent against Hepatitis B of which today happens to be an exclusive day the whole world had devoted to address issues about this deadly disease, I must confess that it is a great honour.
Gone were the days when Ghana used to hear about Hepatitis B and that was even through our media from international but as at now, I’m very disappointed to say that, Hepatitis B is here with us. The World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on the 28th day of July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis which causes inflammation of the liver that leads to severe disease and liver cancer. It is a day of the world’s Hepatitis community to unite as to celebrate the progress we have made and to meet the current challenges.
I do also see it as a chance for us to increase awareness and encourage a real political
change to jointly facilitate prevention, diagnosis and treatment. This year’s theme is centered on “BRINGING HEPATITIS CARE CLOSE TO YOU” .
The cost involved in testing and the treatment of this deadly disease scare off many people including expectant mothers from ascertaining their status. But fortunately for us, we have been blessed with a good leader who is mostly concerned about the health of his people and is poised about this public threat in this Municipality and the country as a whole by investing resources so people can have access to testing and vaccination without a fee.
The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that an estimate of 350 million people are chronically living with viral Hepatitis. Ghana is estimated at 3-4.6 million people chronically living with Hepatitis B which is a national burden. According to the Ghana Health Service, the 2020 world Hepatitis day report estimated that 92,000 to 147,000 new-borns will be exposed to the disease by their mothers during delivery and up to 90% of these new born babies may end up being infected if they don’t receive birth dose Hepatitis B vaccine and prophylaxis. In my municipality, a survey on Hepatitis B indicated that an estimate of 8% are infected with the disease.
In other words, 1 out of 12 of proevery person is chronically living with Hepatitis B. Again, of the total number of positive cases, the youth contributed the most percentage of infection with 89%.
The mortality rate is so pathetic as research shows that a patient dies every 30 seconds globally from Hepatitis B. Only 10% of people who have Hepatitis B are diagnosed and only 22% are receiving treatment. 9 in a 10 people living with Hepatitis B are not aware of their status.
But it doesn’t have to be like that especially in the case of Ghana and Effutu Municipality in peculiar. Eventually, with political drive and will and with collective efforts from all stakeholders and everyone coupled with the presence of effective diagnostics, vaccines and treatments, we can eliminate this deadly disease as a public health threat.
Today, I’m very confident in proclaiming that solutions to this burden was organized in the late 2019 and ended in 2020 in this very constituency through the sponsorship of HON Alex Afenyo Markin. Being it one of the main purposes of gathering here, Mumbies Foundation Ghana is officially launched today. Mumbies Foundation Ghana is an NGO registered in Ghana that is dedicated to help break the cycle of mother to child transmission of Hepatitis B in rural communities in Effutu and beyond. This NGO’s vision is to create a Hepatitis B free future for Effutu.
The MP for Effutu, Hon Alex Afenyo funded a research on Hepatitis B prevalence in the Municipality and the outcome of the research gave birth to the Mumbies Foundation Ghana to tackle the situation. He has been offering support in financial way as the patron and financier of this wonderful organization. Through His support, 9 innocent babies have been saved from contracting the disease through provision of free HBIG, 4017 people have been offered free screening in Effutu, 994 people offered free Hep B vaccination, 243 positive Hepatitis B patients identified and linked to care.
The Mumbies Foundation Ghana has lots of objectives to achieve in the Effutu Municipality and beyond. All these are being in fruition because of how Our Member of Parliament cares about the health of Effutu residents and Ghana at large therefore offering support to this organization.
I will use this platform to call on government to engage National Health Insurance Authority to enrol Hepatitis screening and treatment unto the National Health Insurance Scheme for free just like they are currently doing for TB and HIV. This would increase coverage for screening and vaccination.
I encourage everyone especially the youth and pregnant women to get tested to know your status and take the necessary action because when it comes to Hepatitis B, knowing your status earlier can save your life.
I thank you all once again for being part of us as we launch this foundation today. God bless us all.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
