With an estimated over 15 million Pakistanis suffering from hepatitis, 'World Hepatitis Day-2013' is being observed here on Sunday (today) like other parts of the world, to raise awareness of hepatitis, its prevention and treatment. The day is marked every year to increase the awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases that it causes.
Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E can cause acute and chronic infection and inflammation of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. According to the World Hepatitis Alliance, about 500 million people are currently infected with chronic hepatitis B or C and 1 in 3 people have been exposed to one or both viruses. These viruses constitute a major global health risk with around 240 million people being chronically infected with hepatitis B and around 150 million people chronically infected with hepatitis C.
To mark the day, different NGOs working in the health sector as well as universities and hospitals in the country will hold functions to spread awareness regarding the disease among the masses. World Health Organisation (WHO) has rated Pakistan as 2nd country in the world having high rates of chronic infections. About 8.6 million Pakistanis are affected with Hepatitis C, the WHO report said.
While Pakistan is among the top syringe consuming countries where about 2.4 billion syringes are used every year, the use and reuse of suspect quality syringes is posing a serious threat to the life, safety and health of masses, patients by spreading the menace of lethal infectious diseases like Hepatitis B & C in the country. Health professionals said on Saturday that the viral hepatitis often causes cirrhosis and liver cancer, and millions of people across the globe have either contracted or are on the verge of getting infected.
They maintained that hepatitis is a medical condition causing inflammation of the liver, and since liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood and fights infections; its function is affected if damaged or inflamed. The only way out of deadly viral hepatitis diseases is to get oneself 'vaccinated.'
A study indicates that in Pakistan, hepatitis B has a national prevalence of 4.9 per cent while Hepatitis-C is relatively less common with a national incidence of 2.4 per cent. Assistant Professor of Medicine Lahore General Hospital (LGH), Dr Israrul Haq Toor said hepatitis is a silent killer disease which has affected every 10th person in Pakistan.
Toor said that 6 to 7 per cent Pakistanis have fallen prey to Hepatitis C while 2.5 per cent are suffering from Hepatitis B which is alarming figure. He said that this disease in on rise throughout the world especially in developing countries. He further said that there are five types of Hepatitis virus; A, B, C, D and E contaminated and polluted water and unhygienic food are the major reasons for Hepatitis A and E. while most of the people suffer from Hepatitis B, C and D because of used syringes and unsafe blood transfusion. He said that this disease can be transferred from mother to child at the time of delivery.
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