In Sindh province, over 3.1 million people are suffering from Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C and if co-ordinated efforts are not carried out on emergent basis, the number of patients can be further increased.
The preventive measures for controlling Hepatitis has become need of the hour to control the mortality rate, Provincial Coordinator of Prime Minster's Programme for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis in Sindh, Dr Zulfikar Ali Gorar told APP on July 27. Like other countries, World Hepatitis Day had been observed in Pakistan on July 28.
He informed that over 2 billion people around the world have been infected with Hepatitis-B Viral, among them 350 million are chronic carriers. Besides, 170 million are chronically infected with Hepatitis-C Viral globally, he said and added that viral Hepatitis could be treatable subject to proper attention and timely intervention.
Quoting the national prevalence figures, he informed the prevalence of Hepatitis-B in the country stands around three to four percent and Hepatitis-C virus as five percent. However, he said that some areas of province might have a prevalence figure far more than the national statistics. He said that provision of clean drinking water could control Hepatitis-A and Hepatitis-E.
Similarly, he said that timely vaccination, discouraging the reusing of syringes and promoting the transfusion of screened blood could control Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C. He stated that Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C are blood borne diseases instead of waterborne.
He informed that the Federal Health Ministry through its massive programme, launched in 2005 under Prime Minister's Programme for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis in Pakistan" has set the target of 2010 to control the all kinds of Hepatitis in the country. In Sindh, the programme has become operational from May 2006, he added. Dr Zulfiqar said the programme offers a comprehensive preventive, diagnostic and curative package in 20 district and teaching hospitals of the province.
The programme operates through a notified "Viral Hepatitis Control Committee" of the respective hospital, he said and added that the committee comprises of the senior hospital staff members with representation from District Governments.
About hospital waste management and provision of safe drinking water in district headquarter hospitals, he informed that the Ministry of Health has approved the installation of incinerators and hospital waste management system along with water filtration plants in eight hospitals of province.
He said that the programme included vaccination against Hepatitis-B to high-risk groups, free screening facilities for patients of Hepatitis B and C, PCR and genotyping facility to deserving patients, treatment against Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C for poor and deserving patients as decided by the Viral Hepatitis Control Committee of the respective hospital and free follow-up investigations of the patients receiving treatment from the hospital.
He said that the government has also decided to launch a countrywide mass awareness campaign against different kinds of Hepatitis particularly B and C, which is increasing amongst the countrymen.
The first phase of the campaign was completed in May 2007 when advocacy campaign launched in six districts. As a result this campaign, he informed that the District Governments of Tharparkar, Dadu, Umerkot and Jamshoro districts have allocated funds from ADP. The efforts of these District Governments for the welfare of their people are commendable, he added. Dr Zulfikar Ali Gorar also paid tributes to mediamen adding that they are playing pivotal role in creating health awareness along with other stakeholders.