There are some areas in Sindh province where prevalence of hepatitis 'C' patients was recorded 30 percent against the world-wide ratio of 12 percent.
Professor Dr Sadik Memon stated this while addressing a public awareness seminar, organised by Macter International along with the collaboration of Chief Minister Sindh Hepatitis Control and Prevention Initiative, World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), Liaquat University of Health Sciences, Isra University Hospital and Pakistan Society of Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD). "As many as 17 million people in the country are suffering from Hepatitis 'B' and 'C'," Memon added.
Professor Memon revealed 96 percent to probably 100 percent children in Pakistan suffered from hepatitis A before reaching the age of six years. He informed that hepatitis A and E spread from contaminated water. Referring to a survey conducted in four districts of Sindh, he said only 10.5 percent of the population found vaccinated for hepatitis B.
He further said 4.4 percent found suffering from hepatitis B, while 10.2 percent patients found hepatitis C positive. Ghumanabad, an area of Hyderabad locality, survey disclosed 21 percent people were suffering from hepatitis C, while only 9.7 percent were vaccinated against hepatitis B, he maintained.
He said injections from glass syringes, dialysis, blood transfusion, sharing of shaving blades, tattooing and intravenous drug abuse are the main reasons of spreading of hepatitis C. Dr Abdul Majeed Chutto, Programme Manager, Chief Minister Sindh Hepatitis Control and Prevention Initiative said hepatitis has become a national problem and there is a need of concerted efforts to curb this menace. He said the disease could be avoided and termed vaccination mandatory to eradicate hepatitis B.
It is not the problem of Pakistan alone, but the whole world is fighting against this deadly disease, adding around 2 billion people were tested hepatitis B positive while millions of others are detected hepatitis C positive. Around 17 million people are suffering from hepatitis in Pakistan out of which 10 millions are suffering from hepatitis B and 7 million are hepatitis C patients.
He said the aims and objects of chief minister's programme are prevention of hepatitis, treatment, awareness, legislation and strengthening the three years project. He said the government is going to introduce auto-lock syringes across the province within six months.
Dr Bekha Raam, Consultant Physician, Liaquat University Hospital informed that around 170,000 people die of hepatitis B and C in the country, which is more than the total number of causalities due to earth quick, which hit the northern areas in 2005. Quoting a survey, he said 120 police personnel out of 200 people were found hepatitis B and C positive in Police Training Centre (PTC) Shahdadpur, which was an alarming rate.
Dr Asif Burni advised the public to avoid unnecessary injections and prefer using oral medications, as this may lead to an unnecessary risk of hepatitis B and C spread. Dr Sami Sheikh informed that the complications of hepatitis B and C include, vomiting of blood, accumulation of fluid in abdomen, unconsciousness and liver cancer.
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