The government has announced a comprehensive five-year programme to stop the spread of hepatitis C in response to the urgent need to combat this “silent killer.”
One and a half million people now have hepatitis C in Pakistan, which has serious health implications for the entire nation. The government has announced a comprehensive five-year programme to stop the spread of hepatitis C in response to the urgent need to combat this “silent killer.”
Health professionals and policymakers are concerned about the increase in hepatitis C cases. The situation is extremely concerning, according to Dr. Basir Achakzai, Director General of Health Pakistan, with an estimated 15 million working women and people in the nation suffering from the illness.
He emphasised the need for action and disclosed that the federal government would pay for the treatment kits needed for the programme.
The growing prevalence of hepatitis in the nation has been linked in large part to carelessness. A medical expert named Dr. Iftikhar Malik emphasised that due to widespread use of injections and drips, some villages have reported infection rates exceeding seven percent.
Urban areas, however, have significantly lower rates, with less than 5% of residents affected.
The national hepatitis control programme, which the prime minister is expected to announce this month, aims to address this urgent problem head-on. The programme will be put into effect all across the nation.
The alarming statistics have prompted a renewed effort to combat hepatitis C. Hepatitis was found to be present in Pakistan at a prevalence of 5%, according to a 2008 survey. Recent data, however, paint a worrying picture, showing an alarming increase in cases of 7%.
The program’s all-encompassing strategy includes widespread screening, medical care, and public education campaigns about early detection and prevention.
Hepatitis refers to liver inflammation. The liver is a crucial organ that filters blood, processes nutrients, and fights infections. The function of the liver can be impacted by inflammation or damage.
Hepatitis can be brought on by toxins, drugs, some medical conditions, and heavy alcohol consumption. Hepatitis, however, is frequently brought on by a virus.