President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday said that as Pakistan has the world\u2019s largest population of hepatitis patients, it was a must to prioritize the screening and early diagnosis of the disease and any delayed action could lead to a devastating liver cancer epidemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cPresently, Pakistan has the world\u2019s largest population of patients living with Hepatitis C, a staggering 10 million cases\u2026 Without timely action, the number of HCV-infected cases in Pakistan may rise exponentially, leading to a devastating liver cancer epidemic,\u201d the president said in his message to the nation on World Hepatitis Day annually observed on July 28.<\/p>\n
He said World Hepatitis Day was commemorated to raise awareness about the critical issue of hepatitis and related diseases in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
He said Hepatitis B and C viruses posed significant public health threats, causing immense morbidity and mortality worldwide.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the Eastern Mediterranean Region, a staggering 80% of the hepatitis C disease burden lies in Egypt and Pakistan. While Egypt has made commendable progress in combating hepatitis C, regrettably, our country remains a major contributor to this burden in our region,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n
The president said Hepatitis C was a dangerous, silent disease, often carrying no signs or symptoms until it has done significant damage to the liver.<\/p>\n
We must realize that individuals infected with this virus continue to carry it for years, putting them at high risk of advanced-stage liver disease and cancer, he added.<\/p>\n
He said in order to ensure the well-being of our nation, we need to prioritize the screening and early diagnosis of hepatitis C cases. It is our duty to actively screen our entire population and promptly treat those found positive, the president added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe consequences are alarming: numerous deaths, liver cirrhosis cases, and a significant burden on our economy. We cannot let this happen; we must take action today to secure a healthier and prosperous future for our nation,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n
He said on World Hepatitis Day, the nation should reaffirm its commitment to making hepatitis prevention, control, and elimination a national priority. We are scaling up screening, testing, and treatment efforts while emphasizing preventive interventions nationwide.<\/p>\n
President Alvi called for addressing the risk factors of the disease urgently, such as ensuring safe blood transfusions, using auto-disable syringes, strict infection control practices in healthcare settings, and implementing hepatitis B birth dose and adult vaccination.<\/p>\n
He called upon all healthcare workers, stakeholders, and citizens to join hands in this crucial endeavour.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us spread awareness about hepatitis prevention, screening, and treatment throughout our communities. Together, we can create a healthier and brighter future for Pakistan, free from the burden of hepatitis and its related diseases by protecting the health of our people,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday said that as Pakistan has the world\u2019s largest population of hepatitis patients, it was a must to prioritize the screening and early diagnosis of the disease and any delayed action could lead to a devastating liver cancer epidemic. \u201cPresently, Pakistan has the world\u2019s largest population of patients living with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-346035","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n