Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s health facilities across the province lack hepatitis vaccines, a compulsory dose to be given to every child at birth, Daily Times learnt on Thursday. This was revealed at a program in connection with World Hepatitis Day organised by Prime Minister Program for prevention and control of Hepatitis Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here at Health Department.

Detailing the present situation of the disease in the province, Dr. Kaleem Khattak said that Pakistan has the second-most hepatitis patients. He informed that 27 million people were suffering from hepatitis B while 1.35 million people infected with hepatitis C and the figure may continue to increase. He added that there are 11,638 patient of Hepatitis C in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 24 districts while 3,462 patients suffered with hepatitis B.

The medic informed that they did a screening test in the Health department and Planning and Development (P&D) departments and were surprised to know that large numbers of the employees in these departments were hepatitis B patients.

He further said that the ratio of hepatitis patients is alarming in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the disease was spreading rapidly in the province. Dr. Kaleem said Swat is on the top with hepatitis patients while Mardan district stands second, adding that the number of patients suffering from hepatitis were alarmingly on the rise in Dir Upper and Dir Lower districts of the province.

He stated that 32 centres of hepatitis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were providing free treatment to patients, adding that from August 2016, they will purchase the new medicine for hepatitis and it would be provided to all the hospitals. He informed that treatment of hepatitis C has now changed from Injectable to oral. He said the price of the medicines for Hepatitis C is $85,000 in America while in Pakistan it is just Rs 6000. Dr. Kaleem said that soon they would establish seven centres for hepatitis patients, all in high risk areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Dr. Ayub Roz, Deputy Director HIV Control Program said that prevention was better than cure and people should take Precautionary steps to keep themselves safe from the disease. He said the provincial government had allocated Rs.500 million budget for the prevention of hepatitis, Thalassemia and HIV/Aids.

He added that due to lack of awareness regarding the hepatitis disease, it is fast spreading. To educate people about the disease, he said, the provincial government has already trained the Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and health staff to create awareness of hepatitis among masses.

He informed the gathering that the main reason for hepatitis was head shaves and circumcision, shaving at barber shops, piercing and tattooing, sharing of syringes and shave machines and the usage of unsterilised equipment during surgeries.

He added that the media should also play their due role to sensitise and educate the masses on hepatitis as the government and all stake holders will jointly eliminate the hepatitis disease from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On the occasion deputy director public health Shaheen Afridi and other health officials were also present.