Donors pledge funds for hepatitis eradication plan

Red Crescent Hospital will offer free diagnosis and treatment facilities

RAWALPINDI:

After the suspension of necessary funding by the ongoing US-based Task Force for Global Health for the Local Hepatitis Elimination and Prevention Programme (LHEAP) for free diagnosis and treatment of the disease in the city’s 46 union councils, businessmen and philanthropists of the garrison city have taken up the responsibility to ensure continued medical facility to the deserving citizens.

In this regard, the Red Crescent Hospital will now run a free hepatitis diagnosis and treatment programme with the support of business community philanthropists and fundraising in educational institutions.

Prominent businessmen and philanthropists of the city attending the Red Crescent Governing Board meeting, chaired by Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha, have assured that the hepatitis-free diagnosis and treatment programme will not be stopped and full financial support will be provided for this programme.

The Red Crescent Governing Board meeting was informed that next month, Holy Family Hospital will remove the dengue and infectious diseases unit located in the basement of the Red Crescent Hospital, after which a burn unit will be established there, which will be funded by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and other philanthropic circles.

The Red Crescent Hospital will take control of the free hepatitis diagnosis and treatment system as an institution.

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The salaries of the hepatitis control programme chief and 50 employees will also be paid with the financial support of businessmen and philanthropists included in the Red Crescent Governing Board.

Red Crescent Hospital In-charge Dr Ansar Ishaq has said that the hospital will be made a centre of the best treatment facilities. “At present, a large dialysis unit is functioning in the hospital, while a modern laboratory is also functioning,” he said.

Dr Ishaq said with the financial support received from the Red Crescent Governing Board, not only the best treatment system will be established in the hospital, but the free diagnosis and treatment facilities for hepatitis will also be continued.

Every year, viral hepatitis B and C cause 1.1 million deaths and 3 million new infections globally. Shockingly, only 10% of individuals with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are diagnosed, and just 22% of them receive treatment, the participants were told. Similarly, 21% of people diagnosed with hepatitis C infection receive treatment, representing only 62% of those diagnosed.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2023.