GB to launch hepatitis C screening campaign

ISLAMABAD, Nov 11 (APP): Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain on Wednesday announced to launch hepatitis C screening campaign over the next three months, targeting at least 600,000 people with the support of the federal government.

The announcement was made during a meeting with Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal, where matters relating to public healthcare challenges in Gilgit-Baltistan and measures to prevent hepatitis C were discussed.

During the meeting, Dr. Saeed Akhtar gave a detailed presentation on hepatitis C diagnosis, screening and prevention.

He informed the participants that Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad had been selected as model populations for hepatitis C screening, with the aim of expanding the initiative to other areas based on the experience gained.

He said the Ministry of National Health Services had provided training to relevant healthcare staff in Gilgit-Baltistan, along with 600,000 screening kits and 25,000 PCR testing kits to support the campaign.

The chief minister thanked the federal health minister for the support and said the Gilgit-Baltistan government would launch an extensive public screening drive over the next three months to ensure screening of at least 600,000 people.

He said the campaign would cover around 60,000 government employees as well as students of schools and colleges.

The chief minister emphasized that hepatitis C screening was an important measure for protecting public health and preventing disease, adding that his government would ensure effective implementation of the campaign as part of its efforts to strengthen preventive healthcare services.

The meeting was also attended by the Federal Health Secretary, Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, Provincial Minister for Works and the Secretary to the Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan.