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KARACHI: During protests held on Thursday on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, experts expressed concern over the growing number of hepatitis cases in the country and said the government should immediately take significant steps to combat viral hepatitis, including vaccination of children, blood improvement and safety. injection safety and the implementation of infection control practices in health facilities.
They also stressed the need for proper management of patients because the disease was often diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in complications and death.
"A very alarming situation prevails in the country vis-à-vis hepatitis. The areas most affected by the disease include southern Punjab, upper Sind and neighboring regions of Baluchistan, "said gastroenterologist professor Zaigham Abbas during an interactive sensitization session at the hospital. Dr. Ziauddin.
The theme of this year's World Hepatitis Day is 'Finding Missing Millions'.
Sharing some data, Professor Abbas, also head of the department of gastroenterology at the University and Ziauddin Hospital, said that about 10 million people were suffering from hepatitis C, while five million people had been diagnosed with hepatitis B.
"Unfortunately, Pakistan is a country where the five types of hepatitis viruses are present. In Punjab, a large number of people are living with hepatitis C, which is the most common type of hepatitis in this region, "he said.
Professor Abbas explained to the public that the hepatitis virus directly attacks the liver and that when this organ could not function properly, a patient became very vulnerable and could develop many health problems. including abdominal ascites), portal hypertension (high blood pressure in the sinusoids of the liver), cirrhosis (contracted liver), liver cancer and renal failure, he added.
Dr. Khurrum Baqai, chief gastroenterologist, stressed the need to take preventative measures to control what he described as a hepatitis epidemic in the country and said, "The majority of patients with of this disease do not know that they have been affected by the virus. That's why the disease is called a silent killer. "
The ZU's retired clerk, S. Waqar Hussain, called for training medical staff in the early diagnosis of the disease and for providing appropriate guidance to the public.
During this time, several activities were organized at the Institute of Urology and Transplantation of Sind (SIUT) to mark the day of hepatitis. These events included free screening for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, vaccination against hepatitis B as well as an ultrasound of the abdomen.
The visitors were also informed by audiovisual means of the prevention of hepatitis.
During a public awareness session, SIUT experts called on health planners and industry professionals to work together on the elimination of hepatitis.
Sharing data from the World Health Organization, they pointed out that viral hepatitis B and C in the world affected 325 million people and caused 1.4 million deaths a year.
People infected with hepatitis are 10 times more numerous than HIV, but more than 80% of people living with hepatitis do not have access to prevention, screening and treatment services, they said.
Visitors were also informed about the mode of transmission of the disease, treatment and methods of prevention of various forms of hepatitis. These preventive methods included the use of boiled water, the practice of hand washing before eating, after using the toilet and changing diapers, the use of new syringes, razor blades and the use of sterile dental and surgical equipment in case of procedure.
The experts who interacted with the visitors included Dr. Manzoor Siddiqui, Dr. Farina Hanif, Dr. Shoaib, Dr. Mudbadir Laeeq, Dr. Ghous Soomro,
Dr. Nasir Luck, with dietitian Kehkashan Zehra.
Posted in Dawn, July 26, 2019
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