Complications from Hepatitis B and C is causing more than 300 deaths every day, and Pakistanis are not aware.
By Sayyed Shehzer Abbas
There has been a misconception that Covid-19 is the worst outbreak in the country causing more deaths than ever. Facts prove that more than 300 individuals die everyday fighting Hepatitis B and C. Deaths caused due to complications from hepatitis B and C are up to four times more deadly than the Covid-19 outbreak.
These figures were revealed at an awareness session on World Hepatitis Day 2021 by President Pakistan GI and Liver Diseases Society (PGLDS), Dr. Lubna Kamani. Comparing Covid-19 with the cases of Hepatitis B and C, Dr. Lubna said that the spread of novel coronavirus is nowhere near the spread of Hepatitis. The country experiences more than 150,000 new cases of Hepatitis B and C every day. Currently the total number of cases in Pakistan has crossed 15 million. This number stands at the second largest population infected with hepatitis B and C just below China. Coronavirus carrying the spotlight is dimming the fatalities caused by Hepatitis B and C. Creating awareness and highlighting deaths caused by hepatitis is the only way of letting people know about its prevention.
Dangerous medical practices and a helpless arrangement of sewage treatment and disinfection are basically liable for the spread of each of the five types of hepatitis in the country.
Hepatitis B and C are communicated through direct contact with or bonding of liquid, like blood or saliva. Reports claim that most of the infected become contaminated with hepatitis B and C at hospitals or clinics where hygienic environment is avoided.
Awareness about hepatitis B and C is vital to its counteraction and treatment, adding that these viral diseases can be cured.
Moreover, she also mentioned 2019 HIV/AIDS outbreak incident in Ratodero, Sindh, where the doctor infected 1,400 individuals and more than 1,000 children by reusing syringes. Such unsafe medical practices and less awareness is the reason why people blindly trust doctors and get themselves in danger.
‘Hepatitis cannot wait‘ was the theme during the current year’s World Hepatitis Day which requires its disposal from the world by 2030, said Dr. Lubna.