Call for checking spread of hepatitis

The Pakistan Society of Family Physicians (PSFP) has asked the government to launch a vaccination campaign in urban as well as rural areas of the province to check the spread of hepatitis, which is spreading at an alarming ratio. The Secretary General of PSFP, Dr Sheharyar Bhatti told Business Recorder here on Friday that the government must formulate an integrated and comprehensive plan to overcome the disease, as it weaken the body immune system and thus exposing the carrier to various other diseases such as kidney problem, abdominal, diarrhea and typhoid.
He also demanded of the government to establish state-of-the-art clinical laboratories at district levels to screen the people for hepatitis. Screening services may also be provided through a mobile unit, he added.
According to Dr Bhatti, an estimated 10-15 percent of the population in Lahore district suffers from hepatitis-B, whereas an estimated two-three percent are stricken with hepatitis-C.
"With an estimated 15 million carriers of hepatitis in the country, he said that a special campaign is required to be launched on emergency basis to check the spread of disease, which is on rise at horrifying magnitude on account of use of polluted water, reusing of infected needles/syringes, dental and other invasive health care services", he said.
He also urged the government to chalk out a comprehensive plan, involving all the community leaders, medical experts, opinion makers and other stakeholders to wage joint efforts in combating the disease by disseminating the message of taking preventive measures against it.
To a question, Dr Bhatti said hepatitis is a major public health problem all over the world and over one million chronically infected persons die each year due to hepatitis-B infection and its complications, while hepatitis-C virus infects 3-4 million persons each year.
He also called upon the government to evolve a comprehensive strategy for strengthening environmental health measures through community-based initiatives, practical strategies and capacity building activities at the local levels. For basic sanitation measures, water supply, sanitation, solid waste measures must be adopted for checking environmental pollution and the relevant laws should be strictly enforced.