Islamabad, 28 July 2016: Health experts stressed the need for vaccination to prevent hepatitis and urged the people to avoid getting non-essential injections and drips.
This was briefed to media cell of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) by leading experts on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day observed on 28th July.
Central PIMA president Dr Abdul Malik, and leading gastroenterologists including Prof. Najibul Haq and Dr Saad Khalid Niaz expressed their concern on the growing incidence of infectious diseases in Pakistan, noting that the country has the second largest number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C in the world.
They reminded that hepatitis patients are three times more frequent than HIV-AIDS in the country, but the strategies at all administrative levels to address and prevent this disease are far too insufficient.
They advised that patients should always insist on the prescription of oral medicines and avoid injectable drugs as far as possible, except emergency situations, especially for common diseases like cold, fever and cough. They also urged people not to share their personal hygiene items like tooth brush, razors etc. Doctors and patients should exercise extreme caution in blood transfusion, while government should ensure safe transfusion practices at all levels. Hepatitis can be prevented if people get treated, and follow basic preventive strategies.
