Health experts stress need of screening to prevent rapid spread of Hepatitis disease.

HYDERABAD -- Health experts speaking in a seminar on 'World Hepatitis Day' laid stress on screening of hepatitis B and C to control the disease from spreading at alarming levels.

Addressing at seminar organized by Health Department under the Chief Minister Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program, Sindh for creating awareness about hepatitis B and C among common people, Dr. Zulfiqar Dharejo, Incharge Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program, Sindh presenting the current state of Hepatitis informed that Pakistan has the second highest prevalence rate of hepatitis in the world.

He said this year WHO raised a slogan for common people ' I cannot wait to get tested' adding that it was a message for common people to get tested and if diagnosed Hepatitis get treated as soon as possible.

He said that as per Pakistan Medical Research Council one million people are victims of Hepatitis B and 2 million are affected with Hepatitis C.

He said keeping in view this alarming situation, Sindh Government was working on hepatitis program since 2009 and under this programme 63 treatment and 19 vaccine centers were providing treatment to the common people free of cost.

He informed that under this programme, Sindh Government set a target to eliminate this disease till 2030 and it has been making all efforts to achieve the target.

Professor Dr. Bikha Ram speaking on the occasion said that prevention is a way to save oneself from this disease, adding that it was high time to take this disease seriously and to organize awareness programmes on war-footing basis so that people taking it seriously come to Hepatitis Centers for screening of hepatitis B and C.

He said that hepatitis in pregnant woman must be treated timely so that the disease may not be transmitted to the child.

He further said that though...