Hepatitis-C (Kala Yarkan) is a major public health disease in Pakistan. It is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease (Jigar Ke Masle), cirrhosis (Caross), and liver cancer (Jigar Ka Sartan). Despite advancements in medical treatments that can effectively cure the disease, millions of Pakistanis remain unaware of their infection status due to limited awareness and access to screening and testing services. Pakistan is now number one in the world with highest prevalence of Hepatitis as Egypt, previously number one, has completely eliminated Hepatitis-C through an organized concerted effort by their government. As the prevalence of Hepatitis-C continues to rise in Pakistan, early detection through widespread countrywide screening and testing followed by treatment of infected patients is essential for eliminating the disease from the country. The “Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis-C Infection” is an initiative lead by Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan, assisted by Minister planning commission, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, coordinator Health Dr Mukhtar Bharat and Member PM’s task force to eliminate hepatitis-C and Chairman PKLI, Prof Saeed Akhter. It’s his wish to eliminate the disease from Pakistan. The program is a ground-breaking initiative aimed at addressing this challenge, offering free screening, testing, and treatment for the eligible population. This program also provides education to communities, community workers and health care providers on prevention from the disease, removing mis-concepts and how and where to effectively treat the affected patients. Federal government through this program has committed Rupees 34 billion for the first phase, with reciprocal commitment from provincial governments as implementing partners with a total sum of 68 billion Rupees. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharat. Coordinator to Prime Minister on Health also affirms the vision of Honorable Prime Miniter of eliminating Hepatitis-C disease from Pakistan in coming few years. He assured that he and his team at Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, along with the team from “Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI)” and others, will turn no stone unturned to reach Honorable Prime Minister’s dream. Through this initiative, millions of lives will be saved. Hepatitis-C can be cured with only 3-month of treatment, given in the form of cheap and effective oral medications. The challenge is to implement large nation-wide screening program to find hepatitis-C infected patient with no symptom. These are the patients who if treated on time, will not develop liver failure and liver cancer. As the Prime Minister is offering screening, testing by PCR and treatment, totally free of cost, public should come forward and help government in taking care of their health. To start the activities of the “Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis-C Infection” in Pakistan, a pilot phase has been started in two locations in Gilgit Baltistan (MC Chilas - Diamer & UC Markunja - Shigar) in collaboration with Agha Khan Development Network. After learning from this pilot, the main program will be launched during current year in all districts of Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and all other provinces It is important for the success of this national cause that all the civil society, professional groups, academia and media agencies stands behind the program and support this national mission in the form of dissemination of information to masses, provision of equipment to health care providers and outreach teams with trainings to educate communities on the disease, prevention and treatment.
PREVIOUS NEXT
