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President Arif Alvi said on Sunday that Pakistan was about to become a socio-economic development and that it was high time for all citizens to 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 the reuse of syringes that needed to be treated to avoid any volcanic situation.
He added that Egypt had reduced the prevalence of hepatitis from 13% to 3% in ten years and that it was also feasible for Pakistan.
However, the president strongly advocated for targeted efforts on disease prevention, calling it far 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 hepatitis and provide medical treatment free of charge to those found infected.
According to the data, with a prevalence of HCV of 10%, about 20 million would be positive against HCV and would go for the necessary screening. Nearly 80% would show the virus and would require treatment. Using 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 drugs, 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 leading health workers, besides the use of 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.
He said Pakistan had the highest prevalence rate of hepatitis in the world. Most of the factors driving the virus come from the health system, including dangerous blood transfusions and the reuse of syringes, he added.
Mirza said that a national blood transfusion service would be set up to ensure 100% transfusion of blood tested and that the goal would be achieved within this government.
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, 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, Assistant Director-General of WHO for Universal Coverage for Communicable and Non-Communicable 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 with the highest prevalence of hepatitis C in the world and the second highest in terms of hepatitis B prevalence.
During this two-day conference, provincial ministers and health secretaries, provincial hepatitis programs, National Technical members
An advisory group, experts from Aga Khan University, researchers, policymakers and civil society activists also announced their support for the cause.
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