Hepatitis endemic in Pakistan, warns doctor

Says govt must take effective measures to eliminate virus by 2030

KARACHI: Pakistan is ranked second in the world in terms of having the highest prevalence of the Hepatitis C virus. This is largely due to the fact that the country has the highest therapeutic use of injections worldwide. Overall, 15 million people are affected by Hepatitis B & C viruses in the country.

These alarming statistics were shared by hepatologist Prof Dr Wasim Jafri, who is an associate dean and chairperson of the Department of Professional Education as well as a consultant gastroenterologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital.

"The country needs to take effective measures to keep pace with the rest of the world to eliminate hepatitis by 2030," he said, adding that citizens must be informed about the fatality of the diseases.



Dr Jafri was speaking at the 51st public awareness seminar on 'Strategies for Eliminating Viral Hepatitis from Pakistan', held at the Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, on Wednesday.

The seminar was jointly organised by the Virtual Education Project Pakistan (VEPP) and the Dr Panjwani Centre to mark World Hepatitis Day 2019.

The World Health Organisation's (WHO) global hepatitis strategy, endorsed by all WHO member states, aims to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% between 2016 and 2030.

According to Dr Jafri, hepatitis is major health problem globally. Pakistan is host to all five main types of viral hepatitis - A, B, C, D and E - which shows that the country is endemic to hepatitis, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2019.