‘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.

The speakers at the SIUT moot included Dr Abbas Ali Tasnim, Dr Mudassir Laeeq, Dr Zain Majid, Dr Nadir Sattar and Dr Nida Rasool Maher.

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.

Location: Karachi, Karachi City, Sindh, Pakistan
With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

Comments

  1. Mukhtar AlamAugust 10, 2024 at 9:34 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 11, 2024 at 12:30 PM

    Cases of Hepatitis B and C is increasing day by day in Pakistan
    The 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 .


    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 13, 2024 at 4:09 PM

    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.
    It is all the failure of Governments and bureaucracy.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KU syndicate takes decisions on appointments, terminations

Image
IV report KARACHI: Under Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid M Iraqi's guidance, the University of Karachi (KU) syndicate made key decisions on August 31, including appointments of department chairpersons, termination of two lecturers. The syndicate approved appointments of six department chairpersons and a director of institute: Professor Dr Sobia Anees Shahzad (Sociology), Professor Dr Shamshad Akhtar (Geography), Professor Dr Abdul Wahab (Microbiology), Dr Saima Akhtar (Public Administration), Dr Rahila Rehmat Zehra (Biotechnology) and Zaima Israr Mohiuddin (Commerce). Dr Irfan Aziz was appointed Director of Dr M Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophytes Utilisation. The syndicate decided to remove two lecturers of the Physics department --Rabia Najam and Omair Ishaque-- from the services in the light of two separate inquiry reports, said a KU press release. The statutory body also endorsed recommendations of the university’s committee on unfair means for cancellation o...
Read more

KU syndicate greenlights SHEC building on campus, despite reservations

Image
By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: The University of Karachi (KU) syndicate accepted a request from the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) to construct a complex on a two-acre prime land, despite some members' reservations. A four-member committee, headed by Engineer Memon Abdul Jabbar, will finalise the proposed land transfer modalities for the consideration of syndicate. The committee comprises three syndicate members, including two government appointees and a provincial government nominee. Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi chaired the meeting, addressing concerns raised by members, on August 31. According to a KU press release, the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) requested two acres of land for its building. The KU syndicate addressed concerns by stipulating that the SHEC building will be non-commercial and the land will remain KU property. “Upon SHEC's departure, KU administration will manage and govern the building." However, independent qua...
Read more

University of Karachi syndicate meeting mired in controversy

Image
IV Report KARACHI: The sixth meeting of the University of Karachi's syndicate for 2024, held on October 31, was marked by intense debate on several issues, including the promotion of 54 university officers to higher grades. A senior faculty member, Dr Riaz Ahmed, a syndicate member, expressed concerns that the university administration applies different criteria for promoting teaching and non-teaching staff. Despite the syndicate approving promotions for over 50 officers in grades 18 to 20, Dr Ahmed pointed out to the chair of the meeting, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid M Iraqi, that the departmental promotion committee violated the syndicate's set policy by not including a syndicate member in the promotion committee, as decided in 2018. He also highlighted that eight candidates received higher grades under the Incentive Scheme, despite already availing of the benefit twice, which undermines the rules. Other contentious issues included disagreements over the minutes of ...
Read more