HYDERABAD, May 21 : Pakistan is facing a grave situation regarding viral hepatitis as 17 million people in the country are suffering from Hepatits B & C.
According to a press released, this was revealed by the experts observed this while addressing a public awareness seminar on Friday organized by Macter International; in collaboration with Sindh Hepatitis Control Program, Government of Sindh, World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO), Liaquat University of Health Sciences, Isra University Hospital & Pakistan Society of Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD).
The chief guest at the occasion, Dr Abdul Majeed Chutto, Incharge Sindh Hepatitis Control Program, said that hepatitis is a national problem and concerted efforts are required to curb this menace. He termed vaccination mandatory to eradicate hepatitis B.
Prof Dr Sadik Memon, revealed that 96-100 percent children in Pakistan contract hepatitis A before the age of six. He informed that hepatitis A & E spread from contaminated water.
Referring to a survey conducted in four districts of Sindh, he informed that only 10.5 percent of the population was found vaccinated for hepatitis B. He further revealed that, according to the finding of that survey, 4.4 percent were found suffering from hepatitis B, while 10.2 percent were hepatitis C positive.
The speakers advised the public to avoid unnecessary injections and prefer using oral medications, as this may lead to an unnecessary risk of hepatitis B & C spread.
On this occasion, the experts stressed hat prevention is better than cure and preventive measures to curb the spread of hepatitis should be advocated amongst the general public through print and electronic media.
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