World Hepatitis Day is an annual global event that takes place on July 28^th. The purpose of this day is to raise hepatitis awareness, promote testing and vaccination, and advocate for policy changes and access to treatment. Various seminars and walks are arranged by different liver societies across the globe, sensitizing the healthcare professionals and general public about the magnitude of the problem. This year’s seminar designed and executed from the platform of PSSLD was held on 27^th July 2024 in Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi, on a pleasant Saturday afternoon. The theme was “Take action. Test. Treat. Vaccinate”.

The proceedings started with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the National Anthem. Session I was related to the prevention of waterborne hepatitis. The first speaker was Dr. Faridah Amin who elaborated upon the various strategies which could be practically implemented for preventing the spread of Hepatitis A and E in a third world country like Pakistan. This included various hygiene measures, access to clean drinking water and proper disposal of human waste. Next, Dr. Anoshia Fahad highlighted the importance of vaccination for hepatitis A and E, and how to effectively utilize these vaccine in the local set-up.

Session II comprised of talks on how to eliminate chronic hepatitis in Pakistan. The first speaker Dr. Muhammad Kamran gave a comprehensive overview of the point of care tests available to the healthcare providers for early diagnosis and linkage to care. The importance of using WHO approved rapid diagnostic testing kits was also emphasized in his talk. Dr. Nasir Luck spoke about the transmission of hepatitis B from mother to child. He stated that productive strategies can decrease the risk of hepatitis B transmission to the newborn to less than 10%. However, the primary challenge in achieving this target is the lack of awareness among the general public, especially in the rural areas. Dr. Zahid Azam discussed the practical strategies to enhance the coverage of hepatitis B vaccination, which includes public private partnerships and approaching schools and madrassahs for mass vaccination.

Dr. Saeed Hamid and Dr. Zaigham Abbas shed light on the treatment of chronic hepatitis. They said that treatment has now become simplified for hepatitis B and C, however hepatitis Delta therapy remains a huge challenge in Pakistan due to non-availability of cost-effective medications. Dr Saeed Hamid also urged the pharmaceutical industry to resume the production of pegylated interferon, which is the only hope for patients with hepatitis Delta virus infection in this part of the world. The concern of fatty liver disease was addressed by Dr. Zeeshan Ali, who stressed on the fact that exercise, life-style modifications and controlling risk factors like type II diabetes and high blood cholesterol levels remain the only effective treatment strategies for fighting this menace in Pakistan at the moment.

Dr. Huma Qureshi, focal person for the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Control Program, mentioned that unsafe injection practices, inadequate blood safety and use of improperly sterilized surgical and dental equipment remain one of the top-most causes of viral hepatitis spread in the country. She reiterated the importance of public private partnership in effectively eliminating hepatitis from Pakistan by the year 2030. The program ended on a quiz competition in which 8 teams comprising of postgraduate trainees from different teaching hospitals of the city participated. The competition was designed to test the knowledge of young physicians regarding prevention and treatment of hepatitis. Team JPMC won the first prize, followed by team SIUT as 2^nd position holders and AKU secured the 3^rd position.

The seminar was well attended by renowned subject experts, family physicians, general practitioners, postgraduate and undergraduate students, paramedics, and various NGO representatives, who remained engaged throughout the program and actively participated in question and answer session and panel discussion. Hi-tea was served at the end.