Hepatitis patients get free medication

Sources say 446 patients were diagnosed with Hepatitis-C

RAWALPINDI:

For the elimination of hepatitis, a six-month free medication course has been initiated for all the 446 patients, who were diagnosed with Hepatitis-C during the blood screening in the four densely populated Union Councils of the garrison city.

The free-of-cost treatment course has been launched through the Local Hepatitis Elimination and Prevention Programme (LHEAP) in collaboration with the US-based Task Force for Global Health.

According to sources, a total of 23,938 people have had their blood screened in four UCs. By the end of this year, a blood screening of 100,000 citizens will be conducted while next year, the blood screening will be started in 42 more UCs in the city for diagnosis of hepatitis.

They said the blood screening of 23,938 people has been done in 5,151 households until now in the four UCs including UC-10, UC-11, UC-14 and UC-15 in which a total of 446 patients were diagnosed with Hepatitis-C and 170 were found suffering from Hepatitis-B.

“People who do not have Hepatitis-B or C have received shots to keep them safe from the diseases,” the sources said. “Out of a total of 10,678 people awaiting to be vaccinated, 307 people received the first dose while 3,371 others received the second dose,” they added.

“Each of these people will receive three doses.”

On the other hand, treatment with medication has been started for patients suffering from Hepatitis-B and C and such patients will undergo a six-month course in three stages.

Before starting the treatment, every patient had an ultrasound and PCR test, and these tests will be repeated after two months.

These tests will be performed to determine the severity of the condition after four months and once more after six months.

Talking to The Express Tribune, LHEAP Station Head Dr Ansar Ishaq said the number of Hepatitis-C patients is more than double compared to the patients suffering from Hepatitis-B, which is a case of great concern. “It has led us to the conclusion that the blood screening is now required for all the residents of Rawalpindi city,” he said.

According to a report sent to the American-based Task Force for Global Health, blood screening has become essential in all 46 UCs in the garrison city, Dr Ishaq said, adding that an awareness campaign was also launched for prevention from the most deadly disease.