Leading hepatologists and gastroenterologists of the country have urged the upcoming federal and provincial governments to screen every Pakistani for Hepatitis B and C infections after World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Pakistan as 'highly endemic country' for viral hepatitis where millions of people are carrying these lethal viruses.
"We urge the upcoming federal and provincial governments to screen every Pakistani for Hepatitis B and C infections because this disease is highly endemic as per WHO standards and resulting in loss of 40,000-50,000 lives annually in the country," eminent gastroenterologist and president of Pakistan Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Society (PGLDS) Dr. Sajjad Jamil said, at a press briefing, here on Saturday.
The briefing in connection with World Hepatitis Day 2018 was held at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) where a free screening camp for KPC members and their families was also organized by the PGLDS while an awareness walk was also arranged to create awareness about the viral hepatitis.
Liver diseases' specialists claimed that Hepatitis B and C were 'spreading like fire' in Pakistan. They said according to their estimates, around 18 to 20 million people were infected with these lethal viruses and as many as 120-150 people were daily dying due to complications of the hepatitis in the country.
Dr. Sajjad Jamil said the global burden of Hepatitis C is 71 million and over 400 million are infected with Hepatitis B virus; but, in Pakistan, it is estimated that around 18-20 million people are infected with these viruses. Unfortunately, only 20 percent of these people are aware that they are infected with lethal Hepatitis B and C viruses. He said that fortunately, screening of the viral hepatitis was now very easy and cheap while its treatment was also very affordable and in some major cities, free of charge treatment was also available. "I would urge every citizen to screen himself and herself for Hepatitis B and C and also get their families tested," he said, adding that those who are negative should have Hepatitis B vaccination while for the Hepatitis C virus, people should take precautionary measures.
The PGLDS patron Dr. Shahid Ahmed warned that Hepatitis B and C could become second Polio for Pakistan as no steps were being taken at the moment for its prevention and elimination. He lamented that due to unawareness, thousands of people were getting infected with these deadly viruses on weekly and monthly basis.
"Thousands are becoming infected daily with Hepatitis B and C on weekly and monthly basis while around 120-150 people are dying miserable deaths due to these diseases on daily basis in our country which is deplorable," he said, urging the media to give as much attention to viral hepatitis as it does to polio and other diseases.
Dr. Shahid Ahmed alerted that Hepatitis B and C were silent killers and they result in liver cirrhosis, Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) and Liver Failure, which are hard to treat and incurable conditions and advised people to approach qualified gastroenterologists and hepatologists for the treatment of hepatitis instead of approaching quacks, unqualified Hakims and faith-healers.
Renowned physician Dr. Lubna Kamani from Liaquat National Hospital was of the opinion that 40 percent people were acquiring Hepatitis B and C infections through infected and unscreened blood. She said unregistered and illegal blood banks were major sources of Hepatitis B and C spread.
"If you require blood transfusion, it should be from any reputed blood bank where they screen the blood properly by using NAT technique," she, stressing that people must avoid using infected surgical utensils, needles and blades to get yourself protected from these dreaded viruses. Expert from Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Dr. Nazish Butt and Dr. Arif Ahmed from Memon Hospital also spoke and informed about free availability of hepatitis screening and treatment at their centres.
Comments
Comments are closed.