World Hepatitis Day observed in Sukkur

SUKKUR, Jul 28 (APP): The GMC Teaching Hospital Sukkur on Sunday organized a seminar on World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness about Viral Hepatitis.
In his opening remarks, head of Medicine Department Unit III of the Hospital, Prof Dr Iftikhar Ali Shah said that despite of preventative efforts, the people were still being infected with hepatitis every day. As a result, the disease has been on the increase in Pakistan, whereas in the rest of the world, it is decreasing, he told. He pointed out that the people’s ignorance was one of the reasons for the rise of hepatitis in the country. He urged the medics to play their role spreading awareness about this deadly disease and encourage them to get vaccinated.
Head of department Medicine Unit II, Dr Saleh Muhammad Channa said that about 325 million people worldwide were living with viral hepatitis B and C. We must take precautions to prevent infection with hepatitis, and those who are Hepatitis B negative must get vaccinated before they are infected, he said.
Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Shahab ud Din Rind emphasized the importance of prevention, early diagnosis with screening and treatment with antiviral therapy in her speech.
The speakers said that every single individual belongs to medical profession should play their role as a duty to make people aware how to prevent hepatitis, because if we saved one human, we saved the whole humanity.
Senior Consultants, Postgraduate resident, staff nurses and paramedics were among the participants of the seminar.