Professor Agyemang Badu Akosa, a renowned cytopathologist and lifestyle wellness consultant
Renowned cytopathologist and lifestyle wellness consultant, Professor Agyemang Badu Akosa, has expressed concern over the communal consumption of soup dishes such as fufu, omo tuo and tuo zaafi, warning that it could facilitate the spread of Hepatitis B.
Speaking at a panel aimed at improving the quality of health in Ghana at the Ghana Shippers Association Hall in Accra, Professor Akosa explained how the habit of eating from a single bowl could lead to the transmission of Hepatitis B.
He pointed out that when people put their hands in their mouths and dip them into the communal soup, they can inadvertently get saliva into the soup.
This behavior increases the risk of spreading Hepatitis B if one of the individuals is infected with the virus.
“Back in the day, we were all there, we participated as a group, we ate as a group, we did everything as a group. And even eating, I realised later on that this is how Hepatitis B spreads. We didn’t know that. We were all eating fufu and by the time we finish eating, we’re drinking our saliva.
“So you guys, five or six of you doing omo tuo or doing fufu, what on earth do you think you’re doing? You go in like that, you go in and by the time you finish you’re swallowing your spit. That’s the easiest way to spread Hepatitis B,” he was quoted as saying by Graphic.com.gh.
This discussion is part of the latest edition of the Graphic National Dialogue Series, hosted by Graphic Communications Group Ltd.
Prof. Akosa and Prof. Aaron Abuosi, an expert in health policy and management, were the main speakers on the theme: βQuality Health for Allβ.
The series will serve as a forum to discuss development issues with a focus on achieving national consensus in a non-partisan environment.
It also aims to put ideas into writing and influence policy-making at different levels of society.
Against/against
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