Covers the statistics, status, problem and individual efforts in relation to Hepatitis in Pakistan.

1. IMPACT OF POOR HEALTH ON LABOR
PRODUCTIVITY: AN INSIGHT INTO HEPATITIS
RELATED ISSUES IN PAKISTAN WORKFORCE.

2. SITUATION OF HEPATITIS IN PAKISTAN
• World Health Organization (WHO) has rated Pakistan as 2nd
Country in the world having high rates of chronic infections.
• It is estimated that 18 million Pakistani population is infected
with the hepatitis . Every 10th Pakistani is believed to be
suffering from viral hepatitis.
• Thousands of Pakistanis die each year from hepatitis B and its
complications prematurely. Approximately 100,000 new people
are infected with hepatitis B each year

3. SITUATION OF HEPATITIS IN PAKISTAN
• About 8.6 Million Pakistanis are affected with Hepatitis
C according to the WHO report.
• A research conducted in 2013 shows that 11 million
people suffer from hepatitis C and the count of these
patients is constantly swelling.
• As a result, Pakistan has been declared a “Cirrhotic
State” in international health circles.

4. INTERVIEW WITH DOCTOR KHAWAR
I. How many hepatitis patients due you witness undergoing treatment at average per
month?
II. Are there more male or female occurrence? Or is hepatitis common in both genders?
III. Normally what social class do the majority of the patients belong too?
IV. How expensive is the entire treatment?
V. Is working and living condition the cause of hepatitis or specifically hepatitis B or C?
VI. Are drugs or such related activities the major reason for hepatitis B or C?
VII. Why do you think Pakistan is listed at a high rank in hepatitis prone countries?

5. THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE ON MAY 19TH, 2011

6. IMPACT OF HEPATITIS ON LIFE AND
FAMILY
• Hepatitis can affect all areas of your life, including
personal and family relationships, social situations,
employment and plans for the future.
• Financial problem may arise due to the expenses
of curing hepatitis.
• Hepatitis may also lead to physical, psychological
and social hindrance.

7. EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE MENACE
• The most basic method to control Hepatitis is to
provide the population with access to safe and
clean drinking water.
• An article published by Peer Muhamad in The
Tribune on December 23, 2010 blamed the
contamination of the Rawal Lake for the increasing
incidence of hepatitis cases and other related
health problems.

8. BY PEER MUHAMAD IN THE TRIBUNE ON
DECEMBER 23, 2010
• ‘Rawal Dam is the main source of water for Rawalpindi city….four
major and 43 small streams also contribute to the reservoir. In 1995,
a task force for controlling pollution in the dam was set up.
• But despite apparent orders banning construction activities in the
lake’s catchment areas upstream and prohibiting the operation of
cattle sheds and poultry farms along stream banks, these activities
have continued unabated, resulting in flow of five million gallons of
untreated sewage and other dangerous effluents into the lake daily.
• It also convicted that around 6,000 tons of garbage is produced daily
from Rawalpindi and there was no place for its disposal. Nonetheless
it was informed that the government did not have Rs600 billion for
treating 3,600 million gallons sewage all over the country.’

9. EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE MENACE
• Other measures should also be taken like reduction in drugs and alcohol,
using sterilized syringes and regular vaccination or routine checkups.
• Media should help to create awareness about the adverse effects of bad
health and should collaborate with the government to reduce the illiteracy
that exists in context of Hepatitis.
• Doctor Shahab Abid, quoted that
“Highest figures have been reported from Sindh and Baluchistan,
where almost every fourth person is infected. Sadly, a majority of
them are unaware that they are carriers of the deadly virus.
Chronic hepatitis B and C cause more deaths worldwide than
tuberculosis or even HIV/AIDS.”

10. POLICIES BY GOVERNMENT
• Baluchistan
• Sindh
• Karachi
• Punjab
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

11. POLICIES BY GOVERNMENT

12. INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS
• Individual efforts have also been made as Doctor Sheikh
Raizuddin who has won the Sitara-e-Imtiaz has developed
the low-cost interferon injection used for curing hepatitis C
and proposed to sell it for Rs70 per injection – almost
100% below the prevailing market price.
- BY BUTOOL HISAMIN INTERNATIONAL NEWS — 18
OCT, 2012 AT 2:59 AM