‘Pakistan ranks fifth globally in combined hepatitis B and C cases’
By Our Correspondent
KARACHI: Raising alarm over the increasing rate of
viral hepatitis C cases in the country, experts have once again stressed the need
for ensuring rapid screening for the disease among general population as the
only way to avert severe liver damages and other health complications.
The disease experts and senior physicians spoke at
large at various seminars and awareness meetings held in connection with the
World Hepatitis Day, urging the government to take its lead role holistically.
Hepatitis Day theme for this year was “It’s time for
action”. A person dies every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness
globally, says the World Health Organisation, with a call to accelerate action
on better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation
(SIUT) observed the day with a comprehensive programme to raise awareness about
the escalating threat of viral hepatitis in Pakistan.
According to a press release, a large number of people
gathered at SIUT to avail free hepatitis screening and treatment facilities.
At the awareness seminar, experts from SIUT
highlighted the hepatitis statistics and mentioned that Pakistan ranked fifth
globally in combined hepatitis B and C cases, with over 12.6 million people
affected. “The country also bears the largest burden of hepatitis C worldwide
reaching a figure of 8.8 million affected individuals.”
The participants were told that unsafe healthcare
practices, including inadequate sterilisation of medical equipment, injection
therapy and sharing of personal items contribute to the rapid spread of the
virus, which is also called a silent killer—often goes undetected—leading to
severe liver damage, cancer, and even death.
To combat the hepatitis situation, the experts
emphasised the importance of early detection, vaccination, and adopting
preventive measures. They also called for practicing good hygiene, including
consuming boiling water, washing hands, especially after using the restroom.
They also highlighted the importance of using new
syringes at clinics, fresh razor blades at barber shops, and sterilised
equipment for dental, surgical, and cosmetic procedures.
At the same time hospitals were urged to exclusively
use blood products screened and issued by authorised blood banks registered
with the government blood transfusion regulators.
Addressing a press conference, leaders of Pak GI &
Liver Disease Society (PGLDS) highlighted various hepatitis-related issues and
expressed the hope that the federal and provincial governments would go for an
early procurement of the new WHO pre-qualified hepatitis C self-test kits for
the diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis in the country.
PGLDS also advocated for linking the issuance of
computerised national identity cards with hepatitis B and C screening, a
measure, according to them, can ascertain exact number of people living with
hepatitis B and C and other strains of the diseases in the country.
PGLDS President Dr Lubna Kamani said the cases of
hepatitis B and C had been increasing at an alarming rate in the
country—leading to significant public health concerns. She said the WHO
pre-qualified HCV self-test kits are user-friendly, allowing individuals to
conduct the test themselves and receive quick results.
Dr Kamani also underscored the need for comprehensive
national data, improved access to testing and treatment facilities, and
enhanced public awareness to combat these public health challenges effectively.
Dr Nazish Butt emphasised the critical need for early
detection and treatment of hepatitis B and C, saying these viruses often remain
undetected for years, while late diagnosis often leads to expensive treatments
and potential liver transplants.
PGLDS Patron Prof Dr Shahid Ahmed, General Secretary
Dr Sajjad Jamil, Dr Amanullah Abbasi, Dr Kanwal Botani and Dr Masood Khoso also
spoke on the occasion.
Separately, Medical Units III and IV at the Jinnah
Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) organised an event at its Najmuddin
Auditorium, with Prof Amjad Siraj Memon and Prof Shahid Rasul as chief guests.
Speakers of the first session on “Managing the burden of liver diseases in
Pakistan” included Prof S Mansoor Ahmad, Dr Atif Majeed and Dr Zeeshan Ali,
while Dr Marium Waqar, Prof Nasir Lak and Dr Zaheer Ahmed spoke at another
session on “The complexities of chronic liver diseases”.
Courtesy: Social Track, weekly.
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ReplyDeleteCases of Hepatitis B and C is increasing day by day in Pakistan
ReplyDeleteThe cases of B are highest. If serious preventive measurrs ll not be taken by Govt, the cases of Hepatitis would be drastically increased within two years and Pakistan ll definitely cross the China, india and Nigeria .
Basic Infrastructure, basic healthcare system, basic education, basic awareness, basic food and basic human rights, so basically it is a failure of the basics. No need to write more, no need to speak more, IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION OR BE READY TO FACE THE MUSIC OF DANCING DEATH.
ReplyDeleteIt is all the failure of Governments and bureaucracy.