Date: July 28, 2022
Location: Rawalpindi
PSSLD on its unrelending efforts to make Pakistan hepatitis free society and in observance of the World Hepatitis Day – the 28th of July is continuing to hold conferences, meetings and seminars. To commemorate this World Hepatitis Day and to increase the awareness of the public about hepatitis PSSLD members went to the Press Club of Rawalpindi today on the 27th of July and talked to the members of the Press Club and the journalist present there. Members of the PSSLD told the journalist about the prevalence of hepatitis in Pakistan and how serious the condition was. They also informed the journalist that Pakistan had the highest burden of hepatitis C in the world, and about 5 to 7.5% population is infected. Another 2.5% population suffers from Hepatitis B. That makes the total of about 9 to 10% of the population which is infected by hepatitis or about one in every 10 to 11 people. Both hepatitis B and C are spread by contaminated syringes and needles. The reuse of used syringes happens when used syringes are repacked and sold cheap. The use of injections is one of the common causes but also important in the transmission of both B and C are the reuse of razors by Barbers, tattooing of the skin, piercings of the nose and the ears. Hepatitis A and E on the other hand cause a self limiting illness of 4 to 8 weeks. They are spread by contaminated water. To ensure the purity the water it should be boiled. These short talks by Prof Amjad Salamat – President PSSLD, Prof Masood Siddiq – former President PSSLD, Dr Mohammad Salih – Vice President PSSLD, and Dr Junaid Saleem – Media Secy PSSLD were followed by a Q and A session. Meanwhile a free camp had been arranged in collaboration with pharma industry to screen the hepatitis status of the journalists present. All were screened.