President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have called for concerted efforts to contain the hepatitis epidemic and urged all stakeholders to join hands in a unified response to this growing threat to public health.
In their separate messages on 'World Hepatitis Day' being observed on Monday, they said that Pakistan joined the international community in reaffirming the commitment to eliminate hepatitis and protect the health of the people.
'World Hepatitis Day' is observed to raise awareness about the dangers of disease and to promote collective action to prevent and control it. They noted that Pakistani healthcare professionals, researchers, and frontline workers were working tirelessly, and they need the community support.
"We must implement comprehensive strategies that combine mass awareness campaigns, effective vaccination drives, timely screening and access to treatment. It is imperative to extend these services to all segments of society, especially in underserved and rural areas," Zardari said in his message.
In his message, Shehbaz mentioned the launch of the Prime Minister's National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C, which aimed to screen over 165 million people by 2030 and provide free treatment to all positive cases.
"This is a national movement that is a testament to our collective commitment to saving lives and securing the future. To make this vision a reality, we call on different segments of society to contribute to the efforts to end this scourge," he said.
He said raising awareness about hepatitis is essential to break the stigma surrounding the disease.
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