Togo - WHD 2011

The newly established Association Sauvons l’Afrique des Hépatites (ASADH), carried out a week-long awareness-raising campaign in the run-up to World Hepatitis Day in Lomé, the capital and largest city of Togo – the first initiative of its kind in the country where no national hepatitis strategy is in place.
 
Outdoor stalls were installed in strategically chosen public spaces such as markets and churches with the support of district chiefs and over 43 volunteers including many health professionals. Thousands of leaflets were distributed and dialogues were held about hepatitis generally but, above all, about the importance of getting tested. People were then encouraged to visit one of the five hospitals participating in the initiative to get tested anonymously. A small contribution toward the cost of testing was asked as an effort to engage the population in the work of the organisation and encourage people to take more responsibility for their health. The results were striking with 17% of people testing positive for hepatitis B and 6% for hepatitis C. Advice was given to both positively and negatively tested patients about the management of the disease and ASADH is committed to carrying on their advocacy work to ensure access to treatment for the positively tested. People were also encouraged to share their experience and raise awareness in their families and communities. Outcomes of this initiative were shared with health institutions to help them shape their strategy to tackle these diseases.

ASADH also succeeded in engaging the media by holding a press conference in June as a way to promote the start of the initiative as well as educate journalists about the hepatitis situation in the country. Awareness-raising messages were broadcasted on various national TV and radio stations throughout the week, and a call was made to the Togolese government on 28th July to take immediate action to tackle hepatitis.