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ISLAMABAD – President Arif Alvi said yesterday that Pakistan is on the path of socio-economic development and that it is high time that all citizens play their part in raising the poor of the country by offering them all 39, education, health and other opportunities.
Addressing World Hepatitis Day celebrated every year on July 28, the president said the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among 15 to 20 million Pakistanis was alarming.
Dr. Zafar Mirza, Regional Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health, Regional Director of WHO, Dr. Ahmed Salim Al-Mandhari, Deputy Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Dr. Ren Minghui, of the Ministry of Health. WHO, and health experts from various local and international institutions.
He added that the vehicle used to transmit the hepatitis and HIV virus was identical to the dangerous blood transfusion and reuse of syringes, which had to be treated to avoid any volcanic situation.
He added that Egypt had reduced the prevalence of hepatitis from 13% to 3% in just 10 years and that it was also feasible for Pakistan.
"Pakistan has the highest prevalence of hepatitis in the world. Most of the factors that spread the virus come from the health system
However, the president has strongly advocated targeted efforts on disease prevention, calling this treatment much cheaper than treatment. The conference marked the launch of the Prime Minister's policy package for the elimination of viral hepatitis from Pakistan, which would screen about 140 million people for the hepatitis virus and provide free medical treatment for those found infected. According to the data, with a prevalence of HCV of 10%, about 20 million would be positive for anti-HCV and would be screened for it. Almost 80% have a virus and require treatment. According to these estimates, about 16 million cases would require direct-acting antivirals and 12 million would be cured.
The president has unfortunately said that health practitioners are not educated to treat patients prescribing the minimum of possible medications, especially antibiotics and injections.
He added that awareness against viral diseases such as hepatitis and HIV could be better created through physical interactions such as health care workers, in addition to using electronic and social media, NGOs and regular seminars.
He said it is commendable that Pakistan has attempted to eliminate the viral disease despite limited resources and added that investments in the education and health sectors could lead the country to real change and to the success of Naya Pakistan.
Dr. Zafar Mirza, head of the SAPM, told the conference that thousands of new patients with hepatitis were recruited each year due to a lack of prevention, testing and treatment means, as well as poorly screened blood transfusions, poorly sterilized invasive medical devices and risky injections.
He added that the Prime Minister's ambitious plan to eliminate hepatitis B and C viral infections in the country by 2030 was intended to provide leadership and coordination for provincial programs to strengthen prevention, screening and prevention services. and treatment of hepatitis.
In a revealing revelation, Dr. Mirza said that more than eight injections per capita were made in Pakistan, of which about 95% were useless.
"Pakistan has the highest prevalence of hepatitis in the world. Most of the factors that spread the virus come from the health system, including dangerous blood transfusions and the reuse of syringes, "said Dr. Zafar Mirza.
Mirza said that a national blood service would be set up to ensure 100% blood transfusion and that the goal would be achieved during this government's mandate.
He also expressed his commitment to reviewing the hepatitis program in the spirit of the 18th Amendment, which had weakened after the transfer of powers. In addition, a disease surveillance system would be developed to collect real-time data for early intervention.
MPI said that to purge the country of these deadly diseases, it was inevitable to de-politicize the health sector and make concerted efforts, considering it a humanitarian cause.
Although Pakistan produces less expensive drugs to treat hepatitis C, with a very low cost per cure over the next three months, very few people in the country know about their infection and therefore do not have access to screening and treatment. The cost of treating hepatitis C could reach $ 15,000 in a country like the United States.
According to the WHO, 23,720 people died of hepatitis in Pakistan in 2016, which is comparable to a busload of 64 people each day.
WHO has expressed its full support to the Pakistani government in implementing its plan to eradicate hepatitis B and C epidemics.
In his video message, the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, congratulated Pakistan's top political leadership and the Prime Minister's initiatives to eliminate hepatitis by 2030.
Dr. Ren Minghui, Deputy Director-General of WHO for universal health coverage for communicable and noncommunicable diseases, emphasized the importance of using integrated approaches and many existing opportunities and innovations that could help Pakistan achieve its ambitious but necessary goals.
WHO Regional Director EMRO, Dr. Ahmed Salim Saif Al-Mandhari, also acknowledged Pakistan's political leadership in responding to the scourge of hepatitis and said Pakistan's efforts would help strengthen basic health systems in the country and could serve as a positive example to other countries of the world. the region, which had the highest prevalence of hepatitis C in the world and second place in terms of prevalence of hepatitis B. During this two-day conference, ministers and provincial secretaries of health , Provincial Hepatitis Program Directors, National Technical Advisory Group Members, Aga Khan University Experts, Researchers, Policy Makers and Civil Society Activists also announced their support to the cause.
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