Seminar, walk arranged at RMC new campus, HFH to mark the day

Rawalpindi
The Centre for Liver and Digestive Diseases (CLDD) at Holy Family Hospital (HFH) has found that the success rate of latest oral anti-viral drug Sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) for treatment of Hepatitis-C is 95%.
The HFH is maintaining the data of nearly 500 patients getting Sovaldi treatment and on the basis of 200 patients who have completed treatment, it found that the oral drug cured 95 per cent patients completely.
Rawalpindi Medical College Principal (RMC) and Allied Hospitals Chief Professor Dr. Muhammad Umar expressed this while addressing the participants of a seminar organised by the CLDD and RMC administration to mark the fifth official WHO World Hepatitis Day observed on Tuesday around the globe.
The seminar arranged at the auditorium of new campus of RMC at HFH was attended by doctors, nurses, paramedics, students of RMC and individuals from different walks of life.
Professor Umar was the chief guest on the occasion and Professor Hamata-tul-Bashra Khaar was the guest of honour.
Talking to the participants, Professor Umar presented data regarding prevalence of Hepatitis-C in Pakistan and briefed the audience on various options available for treatment of Hepatitis-C in Pakistan. Nearly seven per cent of Pakistani population is infected with Hepatitis-C and the incidence of the disease is continuously on the rise, he said.
He stressed on the need of creating awareness among public on importance of screening for the disease and immediate treatment of hepatitis after diagnosis.
It is important that in Pakistan, there are not less than 14 million patients of Hepatitis-C and majority of patients getting treatment for the disease have been on injection therapy. The injection therapy involves injections interferon having Ribavirin and unfortunately, the response to the treatment has been recorded poor, said Dr. Umar who is Chair of Hepatitis-C Treatment Guidelines Committee of the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO).
He explained that in Pakistan, data from different studies in over past 20 years and well-maintained record from Centre for Liver and Digestive Diseases (CLD) here at HFH showed cure rate of injection therapy only from 30 to 35 per cent while 60 per cent of the patients either does not respond to the injection therapy or relapse after injection therapy.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Bushra said Pakistan is bearing much higher burden of hepatitis in the world and stands second in the Middle East and Asia Pacific region after Egypt.
She said 90 per cent of cases of Hepatitis-B are self-limiting and generally need no treatment however, 10 per cent of these cases have to suffer serious complications of Hepatitis-B.
She said the vaccine for Hepatitis-B is available and its administration is the best option to avoid the disease. To avoid spread of Hepatitis-B high-risk groups including health professionals, HIV patients, drug addicts, sex workers and persons sharing tools of tattooing must be administered vaccine against the disease, she said.
Consultant Senior Registrar Dr. Tayyab spoke in detail on preventive measures to be taken to avoid incidence of hepatitis. To avoid spread of Hepatitis-C, we must have to check use of unscreened blood transfusions, re-use of needles and syringes, sharing of needles by IV drug users, use of improper or unsterilized surgical and dental instruments in operation theatres and dental clinics, road side dentists and barbers and administration of unnecessary injections.
At the end, Dr. Zahid Minhas paid vote of thanks to the guests and participants who were nearly 300 in number.
After the seminar, the organizers arranged an awareness walk that got limited to the premises of the HFH due to rain.