About 15 million people in the country are suffering from the disease, says doctor. PHOTO: FILE
The theme for this year’s World Hepatitis Day, as announced by World Health Organisation, is ‘No Hep’, which calls to weed out Hepatitis globally by 2030.
People who are hepatitis negative will be given a vaccination and two more after a month and sixth months respectively. Whereas, people who are hepatitis positive are administered four rounds of vaccination,” explained SIUT assistant professor Farina Hanif.
The public was facilitated by a team of medical experts who gave them information about preventive and curative steps for hepatitis. During the day-long proceedings, visitors were also shown awareness videos explaining the risk of acquiring hepatitis, its modes of transmission and as how people can prevent the disease.
The dieticians were also present to inform the visitors about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and food habits.
About 15 million people in Pakistan are suffering from hepatitis, which means one in every 13 persons is carrying the virus, said SIUT gastroenterologist head Prof Nasir Hassan Luck.
“Ours is a different style of observing the day. We didn’t want to limit ourselves to delivering lectures or conducting awareness sessions,” claimed Luck. We have conducted free-of-charge screening, vaccination and treatment facilities so that people can benefit from the activity, he said, adding that this helps gather demographic information regarding trend of the disease and its risk factors among the people.
“It’s a very nice initiative by SIUT and I regret that I didn’t bring my family with me to get lab tests for hepatitis B and C and get them vaccinated for free,” said Kashif Mubarak, a staff nurse at a private hospital who was waiting in a queue to get vaccinated.
“I’m surprised to see the arrangements and I am glad that I came to get myself screened at this credible institute,” said another visitor Muhammad Amber. He added that people should get themselves screened on a regular basis.
Another visitor, Naheed Abid, was busy consulting a doctor for his son who had been suffering from hepatitis E for the past one month. She added that people lack awareness about hepatitis and such forums are best possible options where all the consultants are within everyone’s reach.
Fighting the disease
SIUT has dedicated a clinic for the hepatitis patients for three days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, Luck told The Express Tribune. According to him, there are chances of disease spreading whenever there is infection in a certain area. More than 15% of population in northern Sindh and southern Punjab is suffering from hepatitis and there are chances that the disease might spread to adjoining areas, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2016.
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