Hepatitis is a dangerous disease which affects about 4.5 million Cameroonians, with 13% suffering from hepatitis C and 11.9% suffering from hepatitis B. This deadly virus attacks and injures the liver in the human body.
The liver is important to the human system because it removes harmful chemicals from the blood, fights against infections, helps in digestion, stores nutrients, vitamins and also stores energy. Once this virus attacks the liver, it can be destroyed and subsequently lead to death.
Global Forum for the Defence of the Less Privileged, GFDLP, is out to promote right to health. This explains why the organization launched a campaign to reduce the spread of the hepatitis virus in the Southwest Region.
The GFDLP Hepatitis Outreach Programme started with six orphanages across the Southwest Region and has now expanded to major collaborations with several private and public health units across the Southwest Region including; Biaka University Institute, Buea-Town Health Centre and the District Health Service in Limbe.
Biaka University Institute Buea, on May 31st 2017 through the chair, Mrs. Hongla Francisca Epse Biaka, authorized GFDLP to carry out screening and preventive measures against hepatitis B and C on their campus. This is in recognition to the efforts of promoting right to decent healthcare by Global Forum for the Defence of the Less Privileged.
The District Health Service in Limbe under Dr. Constance Njie, equally accepted to collaborate with GFDLP in carrying out screening and preventive measures against hepatitis B and C viruses at ports of entry around the health district. These efforts are in line with the World Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis, 2016-2021, the WHO Regional Committee for Africa; Prevention, Care and Treatment of viral hepatitis in the African region: Framework for action, 2016 – 2020, the Global Strategy of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the vision of the President and Head of Government Paul Biya for an emerging Cameroon by 2035 and most importantly, GFDLP’s vision to reduce the spread of viral hepatitis in the Southwest Region of Cameroon by 80% by the year 2035.
It should be noted that this campaign is beneficial to all the less privileged. That is why support to the organization is necessary, given the enormous cost it entails in the carrying out of such programmes.
