The World Hepatitis Alliance, coalition leads the campaign for the World Hepatitis Day on the 19th of May each year, to build understanding, knowledge and awareness of the menaces of Hepatitis and also to encourage, testing, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Statistics reveal that nearly one in twelve people around the world have either hepatitis B or C and if the infection is not handling on time it leads to cirrhosis of liver, liver cancer and even failure of the liver. The World Hepatitis Day is entirely a patient led campaign and also aims, intended to secure political support for its activities to minimize new infections and improve health care for people already suffering from the infection.World Hepatitis Day Causes:
Viral hepatitis is caused by a virus, Hepatitis A, B, C, D or E, that results in the inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A is the mildest of the other forms and does not result in long-term or serious, lethal effects. Vaccine for Hepatitis A does exist and should be taken as a preventive measure. Hepatitis B is caused by the HBV virus and is by far the most perilous of the group, but a vaccine for it does exist. Hepatitis C caused by the HCV virus is also dangerous, affects nearly 200 million people world wide and the WHO has given it an ‘epidemic’ status. No vaccine is available for Hepatitis C, D or E.
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Previous World Hepatitis Day:
The third global World Hepatitis Day was held on 19th May 2010 supported by 28 patient groups in 68 countries. Working closely with WHO, a report titled ‘Viral Hepatitis Global Policy’ was published. A World Hepatitis Day music album was launched. In excess of 575 events were held including television advertisements and billboards across major countries were raise.
The 2010 slogan was ‘This is Hepatitis’ a range from the 2009 campaign of ‘Am I Number 12’, which point out that one in every twelve people are infected by Hepatitis B or C. The stress in 2010 is to increase awareness and the impact of the disease. The activities took the form of interactive discussion, seminars, a website and a blog as well as campaign materials like 21 posters, 10 postcard and web banners in 12 languages. The efforts resulted, outcome in major policy modification in almost all countries regarding the Hepatitis infections and a pledge to increase the access of the ailing to better healthcare and vaccinations for others.
Hepatitis in Pakistan:
Even though one out of 10 Pakistanis suffers from the virus of either Hepatitis B or C, the hepatitis-infected population of 15 million anticipates the proper implementation of a National Program for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis in Pakistan to control the deadly disease.
Unsafe drinking water, unscreened blood transfusion and the uncontrolled use of used syringes have spread hepatitis, making it one of the major concerns for the country’s health managers. Health professionals and government officials provide inconsistent statements about the prevalence rate of Hepatitis B in the country. Going by their statements the prevalence rate may differ from 4.8 to 5.8 percent.
The federal government has already launched the National Program for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis in Pakistan. An official of the National Institute of Health (NIH) says the five-year program would cost Rs 2.59 billion. The major components of the program include safe drinking water, safe blood transfusion, behavior alteration communication, safe disposal of injection and enveloping devices, capacity building, and vaccination of high menace groups and free treatment of over 5,000 patients on annual basis.
The Capital Development Authority CDA also launched a campaign to check the causes of spread of the hepatitis in the capital. The campaign is being supported by the Health Ministry and other departments. Various other programs are also arranged to observe World Hepatitis Day.
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