Our problem is not Aids, it’s hepatitis, say experts fed up with seminars but no action
The number of infants, children and young adults dying of preventable infectious diseases continues to rise even though the government claims to have pumped in millions of rupees in various initiatives and campaigns, promising to rid the nation of the multitude of diseases that plague it.
Hepatitis, particularly the B and C, are taking more victims into their fatal fold as experts say about nine per cent of Pakistanis are infected by these categories. Of this, six per cent are infected by hepatitis C while about three per cent are Hep B. “Our problem is not Aids but hepatitis. In fact, according to experts hepatitis B is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV,” says consultant gastroenterologist at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) Dr Zaigham Abbas. He was speaking at a seminar titled ‘Reality of Hepatitis - Today and Tomorrow’ organised by the Express Media Group on Monday.
But this isn’t just Pakistan’s problem. Worldwide, a million people die every year due to the disease, about 80% from hepatitis B and the remaining from hepatitis C. However, the high incidence in the country is also blamed on a lack of awareness.
“Hepatitis B and C are not spread through water, they are blood-borne diseases. Hepatitis A and E are water-borne illnesses,” Abbas explained. That isn’t all. The disease also spreads through simple mishandling and carelessness. While needles are not reused in many cases, the syringes are. Once the blood is sucked into the plastic syringe, it is contaminated and reusing it is equally dangerous. People also run the risk of Hepatitis B through sexual transmission with an infected individual. While wearing gloves protects the person handling the patient, in many instances they are not careful and touch contaminated surfaces and then the patient, putting them at great risk. The same applies when someone wants to get body piercings.
Associate Dean at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Professor Wasim Jafri seemed close to despair with the current state of affairs. “People need to stop these gimmickries of running numerous campaigns and programmes and be honest about the issue. Otherwise, be it 2013, 2020 or 3020 we will continue holding seminars and speaking on the same topic.”
Once a young adult has been infected with hepatitis B there is little doctors can do. The person runs an over 90% chance of liver cancer by the time they reach 25 years. Jafri strongly urged parents to get their children vaccinated as once administered, the three-dose course, available through the EPI as well, the child gains a 95% chance of being free from Hep B. “Parents need to get their child vaccinated in the first year, first day, first hour, first minute,” Jafri said, his tone filled with urgency. He then urged the government to look into seriously investing in liver transplant centres. “India began with one or two a decade ago and now they have 62 centres. We also have qualified professionals to do the same thing. The private sector is ready to jump in, but the public sector will have to take the lead and set up the first centre.”
Chief guest for the event, Sindh Health Secretary Rizwan Ahmed, appointed 18 days ago, was a true bureaucrat when he spoke, owning up to ‘the good and the bad’. However, Ahmed admitted that 70 to 80% of funds are spent on the curative aspect of the disease with the remaining on the preventative side, a ratio he intends to change. He spoke about synergising the hepatitis programme with others such as the EPI, nutrition and MNCH to ensure transparency and better use of resources.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2011.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Hepatitis C is a water-borne illness. The correction has been made.
COMMENTS (4)
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lack of awareness speeds up the process of adding more people into the pool every day. barbers and ill trained paramedics champion the cause unfortunately. the area under curve in terms of awareness is rural. I spoke to the barber of my village and he was shocked to know the dreadful outcomes of his everday shaving round of the village with same razor. clergy can also help by asking hep clearance of both bride and groom before binding the couple together. paramedics can be trained through routine in house trainings. I believe all of the above does'nt need much money .. it can easily be done within existing structure/resources we have. Prof Jafri's level of urgency is what we all need to push the efforts towards containing the monster.
It is very sad situation indeed. However, Pakistan has enough money to have more than 100 nuclear weapons and counting. Put your money where your mouth is. All these doctors are useless alarmists; they have to demand a change in budget priority. Unless we protect our citizens specially children how can we defend our country? There is only a limited amount of money in the budget, and let us use it for basic life support items for public health and education. Why can't the doctors stop working till the govt gives them free vaccines for the public? It should be mandatory before a kid starts going to school or in his/her first day at school. It just boils my blood, and people call me unpatriotic!
I agree, and have for some time now that the Hepatitis outbreak across the world will come to true light sooner than any one knows. We are just now seeing the long term effects outside of cirrhosis that Hepatitis causes. The treatment for the disease can be very dangerous so some people causing other life long illnesses like diabetes and renal failure and immune complications. In the United States many people have to give up their jobs and go on disability, which may soon be taken away from us if the governments doesn't fix it's debt problems. Other countries are working on new medicines, but they still have to be taken with Interferon which was the first medicine used when Hepatitis C was first given it's category. In the years to come we will see younger people succuming to this illness as I see now, so many in their 50's are being lost for lack of a cure now. Not all can take the treatment, not all will get a transplant that may be needed. As you mentioned, the majority of the funding goes for research for a cure. I have had HCV for over 30 years, Interferon failed me, and left me with mental scars. I now have cirrhosis and don't plan on a transplant because I still have the virus. There are many that suffer this illness that are on the internet with others that are the same, waiting, hoping for a cure, praying for a cure. Thank you for this that you have done, to speak in public. We need more of that all around the world! Namasthe
"Hepatitis B and C are not spread through water, they are blood-borne diseases. Hepatitis A and C are water-borne illnesses"
So Hep C isn't waterborne, except that in the next sentence it is?
Copy desk sleeping at their job.