Hepatitis spread shows alarming surge

Impact touches every family; experts call for swift measures

LAHORE:

At least one person is expected to be affected by the Hepatitis B and C viruses in every family in the country, necessitating certain measures to overcome this disease.

These views were expressed by Principal of the Post Graduate Medical Institute Prof Al-Fareed Zafar during the awareness walk held at the Lahore General Hospital on Wednesday.

He stated that Hepatitis B and C are extremely deadly viruses that cause countless diseases and deaths worldwide. He noted that a majority of the Pakistani population does not undergo medical check-ups due to lack of awareness as well as economic and social problems.

He emphasised the need for providing more awareness to the new generation about hepatitis. The Principal of PGMI suggested that apart from organizing special lectures in educational institutions, it is also important to include a chapter about Hepatitis B and C in the syllabus.

He mentioned that just as people spend a significant amount of money on their food, they should also consider going for blood screening at least once a year to determine if they are suffering from any kind of viral infection.

He emphasised that viral diseases could be controlled by providing timely treatment to the patient if any disease appears in the blood screening results.

Speaking to the media, Prof Al-Fareed Zafar clarified that there is a misconception among the public that Hepatitis B and C are spread through contaminated water and food items. He explained that the virus is not transmitted through water but through the blood and secretions of patients.

He highlighted the importance of sterilizing instruments used in operation theatres, barber shops, and dentists' clinics to prevent the transmission of the virus. He pointed out that quacks, barbers operating on the side of the road, and untrained individuals cleaning teeth and ears are the main cause of the rapid spread of this virus.

He shared that currently, 328 million people worldwide are suffering from various types of hepatitis, and 17.5 million new cases of hepatitis C emerge every year, which is a very alarming statistic.

He stressed that in 2015 alone, 13.40 million deaths occurred due to hepatitis since 2000, and these figures must be taken seriously.

Medical experts highlighted that according to the research report of the Gastroenterology Organization, Pakistan is the third-largest country affected by Hepatitis C in the world.

They pointed out that over 111 people die as a result of Hepatitis B and C every day. They revealed that the number of people suffering from both diseases in Pakistan is more than 1.5 million, and the majority of them are unaware of their condition.

They further stated that deaths due to hepatitis, TB, dengue, malaria, and AIDS exceed normal rates. According to the World Health Organization, 71 million people in the world are affected by the hepatitis C epidemic, and out of this, 10 percent or 71 million people are in Pakistan. As a result of the complications of this contagious disease, 40,000 people die every year.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2023.