World Hepatitis Day 2025
Awareness Campaign – "SaveLiver Pakistan"
Date: July 26, 2025
Location: Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi
strong>Chief Organizers: Pakistan Society for the Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD)
Inaugurator: Professor Wasim Jafri
Collaborators: Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK), Liver Foundation, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi
Overview
To mark World Hepatitis Day 2025, the Pakistan Society for the Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD) launched a high-impact awareness campaign titled “SaveLiver Pakistan”. The campaign focused on raising awareness about viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and C, and included an awareness seminar, free screening, and a hepatitis B vaccination drive. The campaign primarily targeted hemophilia patients, a high-risk group for blood-borne infections, in collaboration with Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK), Liver Foundation, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi.
Seminar Highlights
The event began with a comprehensive awareness seminar attended by healthcare professionals, medical students, patients, and members of the general public. Eminent experts in the field of hepatology spoke on topics including the epidemiology, routes of transmission, preventive strategies, and community-level interventions to control the spread of viral hepatitis in Pakistan.
Keynote Speakers and Panelists Included
Prof. Wasim Jafri – Professor of Gastroenterology & Founding President, PSSLD
Prof. Saeed Hamid – Professor of Gastroenterology & Former President, PSSLD
Dr. Amna Subhan – Associate Professor of Gastroenterology & Vice President, PSSLD
Prof. Zahid Azam – Professor & Head of Department of Gastroenterology, DUHS NILGID Karachi
Dr. Muhammad Kamran – Associate Professor of Gastroenterology & Information Secretary, PSSLD
Mr. Raheel Ahmed Khan – CEO, Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK)
Dr. Faisal Samdani – Director, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital
Prof. Qaiser Jamal – Head of Department of Medicine, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital
Each speaker emphasized the importance of early diagnosis, routine screening, public health education, and vaccination, especially in vulnerable groups such as hemophilia patients.
Screening and Vaccination Drive
Following the seminar, a free screening camp was organized for hepatitis B and C, specifically targeting patients with hemophilia, in recognition of their increased risk. The initiative also included on-site administration of hepatitis B vaccines for eligible participants.
- Over 150 individuals were screened during the drive.
- A significant number of at-risk individuals received their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine.
The medical teams from PSSLD, HWSK, Liver Foundation, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital worked together to ensure a smooth, confidential, and safe screening and vaccination process.
Acknowledgments and Closing
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by:
- Asma Bandhani – Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology
- Adil Hassan Chang – Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology
They expressed gratitude to all collaborators, participants, and panelists for their dedication to the cause and presented appreciation shields to the esteemed speakers and guests.
Conclusion
“SaveLiver Pakistan” was a meaningful step towards increasing awareness, improving access to screening, and promoting preventive strategies against viral hepatitis. Through multi-stakeholder collaboration, the campaign succeeded in delivering both education and action to a high-risk community, setting a benchmark for future public health initiatives in Pakistan.
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