LHEAP halts operations in Rawalpindi

District Health Authority withdraws general duty staff

RAWALPINDI:

The Local Hepatitis Elimination and Prevention Programme (LHEAP) has ceased operations following the withdrawal of general duty staff by the Rawalpindi District Health Authority (DHA).

The programme, which had been providing free testing and treatment for hepatitis patients, played a critical role in combating the rising incidence of hepatitis in the Rawalpindi region.

Launched on July 10, 2023, the LHEAP initially covered six union councils in Rawalpindi (UCs 10, 11, 14, 15, and 6), along with union council 118 of Taxila's Thatta Khalil area.

The initiative was supported by a US-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) before its funding ended. Upon the termination of external funding, the DHA assumed responsibility for the programme, deploying a team of nine healthcare professionals—including doctors, technicians, nurses, pharmacists, and ultrasound experts—to continue its operations.

During its active phase, the programme achieved significant outreach. Teams visited 10,447 households for hepatitis screenings, leading to the testing of 46,744 individuals.

The results revealed 348 cases of hepatitis B, 1,558 cases of hepatitis C, and 33 co-infections involving both hepatitis B and C.

In total, the programme identified 1,939 cases of hepatitis. Additionally, three pregnant women were diagnosed with hepatitis during this period.

Vaccination efforts under LHEAP saw 21,426 people receiving the hepatitis B vaccine. Furthermore, free treatment was initiated for 71 patients with hepatitis B, 401 patients with hepatitis C, and one patient suffering from co-infection.

Despite the programme's success in diagnosing and treating hepatitis, the DHA's withdrawal of staff has brought operations to a halt at the Red Crescent Hospital.

LHEAP CEO Dr Ansar Ishaq expressed concerns over the suspension and is now appealing to philanthropists to help revive the initiative. Dr Ishaq stressed that hepatitis B and C cases continue to rise in Rawalpindi and nearby districts, urging for the programme's reinstatement with adequate resources to tackle the ongoing health crisis.