Awareness, legislation to check hepatitis stressed

LAHORE
The medical specialists have observed that massive awareness coupled with strong legislation shall serve as the most effective weapons against hepatitis, as 5 to 10 percent of the Pakistani population is affected with Hepatitis. As many as 4,000 people die of Hepatitis daily worldwide.
“The Ulema can play a vital role in creating awareness about preventive measures for hepatitis control,” this consensus was developed in an awareness seminar organised by the Hepatitis Control Programme, Punjab, to observe World Hepatitis Day here on Thursday.
The medical experts were of the view that Pakistan, being a high prevalence country for infectious hepatitis, has to take steps to adopt measures to prevent the spread of hepatitis in its masses. Eradication of this disease from Pakistan can only be possible through better awareness, prevention, care, support and access to treatment at all levels engaging various professionals like doctors, health workers, social workers and beauty salon staff, etc. The media and religious scholars can also motivate public for this change.
Dr Zahid Pervaiz suggested three main methods of arresting the spread of the disease. These were the role of the media, the role of the clerics, and strong and fool proof legislation, he said.
It is important to understand that infectious hepatitis is a preventable disease and public in general, policy makers and implementers need to be educated about the potential routes of spread and ways and means to check the spread from a diseased to a healthy person.
In Pakistan Hepatitis A and E viruses are very common as the main causes of these viruses are polluted food and water. Hepatitis A and E viruses, causing endemic type of hepatitis with increased incidence towards the rainy season, spread by contaminated food and water. Provision of clean drinking water and improved sanitation can reduce the spread of this type of hepatitis substantially. An effective vaccine providing lifelong immunity is available for the prevention of HAV infection, though no such vaccine is available for HEV, he added.
Prof Dr Ghayas Un Nabi Tayyab from Lahore General Hospital said approximately 1 in 12 persons, or around 400 million people globally, have chronic viral hepatitis and most of them do not know they are infected. Whether in developed countries or under developed countries, people are equally suffering with Hepatitis regardless to any caste or creed, religion or ethnicity, he said.
Prof Dr Muhammad Umar, Principal Rawalpindi Medical College, in his address shared that about 7pc of total population is affected by Hepatitis C. He said treatment success by using conventional interferon and pegylated interferon is very low and we have to adopt new treatment regimes including use of new drug sofosbuvirin. He encouraged the physicians to apply mind in research while treating the patients to render benefits of recent developments.
Prof Dr Aftab Mohsin, Principal of a private medical college, said that Hepatitis is a public health issue and impacts millions of Pakistanis. Viral hepatitis is among the top 10 infectious disease killers. Both chronic Hepatitis B and chronic Hepatitis C cause approximately 80 percent of the liver cancer. Various studies and statistics shows that 5 to 10 percent Pakistani population is affected with Hepatitis, however in some areas this ratio is up to 35 percent, he said.
Hepatitis B & C ratio is 8 - 10 pc and main reasons behind are unnecessary use of syringes, unsafe blood transfusion, usage of unsterile equipments in dental procedures, piercing and other beauty procedures such as pedicure etc. Usage of used blades in shaving is also a one common reasons in rural area. HBV and HCV infections have a potential to turn chronic and cause the fatal complication of cirrhosis of liver if left untreated. HBV and HCV infections area transmitted by infected blood contaminated needles, surgical instruments and very close contact. HBV spread can be prevented by mass vaccination with the available preventive vaccine and in case of infected individuals a very effective suppressive therapy is available with a chance of cure as well.
HCV infection can be treated effectively in a large proportion of people, if detected early. No preventive vaccine is available yet.
Experts said: “We need to implement the relevant laws very strictly specially implantation of ‘Blood transfusion act 2002 and enforcement of infection control SOP’s of healthcare commission act’ in the Public and private healthcare facilities can reduce the ongoing spread of HBV and HCV infection”.
Doctors strongly emphasised the need for developing strong preventive measures, early diagnosis and getting the treatment early if tested positive. Prevention is the key and public offices, media and civil society should play their role in educating all concerned.
Dr Sabin Nasir, Deputy Programme Manager and Usman Ghani Provincial Focal Person Hospital Waste, also addressed the workshop.