KARACHI:On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, a walk was organized in EPI Office Karachi under the initiative of Government of Sindh Hepatitis Free Sindh Program to raise awareness about this infectious disease in the people.
The event was attended among other by Minister Health Sindh Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Parliamentary Secretary Health Qasim Siraj Soomro, Secretary Health Sindh Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Deputy DG CDC Dr. Zulfiqar Dharijo and other officers and employees. At the end of the walk, a seminar was held on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, which started with the recitation of the Holy Quran.
Addressing the seminar, the special guest, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh Health Minister, said that on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, we Pledge today that we will get ourselves and our family members tested immediately and support the Sindh government to eradicate hepatitis from Sindh by 2030.
Liver expert Dr. Saad Niaz told about hepatitis spread, prevention and treatment. He explained the causes of hepatitis spread which are unconfirmed blood transfusion, re-use of infected blade, re-use of infected syringe, infected to pierce the nose and ears. Needle reuse, infected instruments, dentistry, quackery and Hakeems, infected male-to-male and male-to-female Dr. Zulfiqar Dharijo said on the occasion of this day that hepatitis is estimated to be one of the eight most dangerous diseases in the world.
This year, WHO has given a slogan for the whole world, “We are not waiting”. According to the Pakistan Medical Research Council 2008 survey in Sindh that one million people were suffering from hepatitis 'B' (2.5%) and two million people were suffering from hepatitis 'C' (4.9%). Keeping in view this situation, the government of Sindh started the hepatitis free Sindh program in 2009, which the aim is to save the poor people of Sindh from this deadly disease and hepatitis patients can be treated for free.
Currently, 404 treatment centers and vaccination centers are working under the hepatitis program across Sindh, where free diagnosis and free treatment facilities are provided. Since 2009, a total of 9940446 people have been initially tested for Hepatitis B and C. while treatment of Hep B 35406, Hep C 299521 and Hep D 2208 patients have completed treatment, besides Hep B 22540 and about Hep C 9207 and 903 Hep D patients are still under treatment. Apart from this, so far more than 11889000 people have been vaccinated against Hep B and about 383202 free PCR tests have been done by 06 PCR molecular labs.
Newsdesk