Islamabad:
President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have requested concerted efforts to contain the hepatitis epidemic and urged all interested parties to join a unified response to this growing threat to public health.
In their separate messages about the ‘World Hepatitis Day’ on Monday, they said Pakistan joined the international community to reaffirm the commitment to eliminate hepatitis and protect people’s health.
It is observed that the ‘World Hepatitis Day’ creates awareness about the dangers of the disease and promotes collective action to prevent and control it. They pointed out that health professionals, Pakistani researchers and first -line workers were working tirelessly, and need the support of the community.
“We must implement comprehensive strategies that combine mass awareness campaigns, effective vaccination impulses, timely detection and access to treatment. It is imperative to extend these services to all segments of society, especially in unattended and rural areas,” Zardari said in his message.
In his message, Shehbaz mentioned the launch of the National Program of the Prime Minister for the elimination of hepatitis C, which aimed to detect more than 165 million people by 2030 and provide free treatment to all positive cases.
“This is a national movement that is a testimony of our collective commitment to save lives and ensure the future. To realize this vision, we ask the different segments of society that contribute to efforts to end this scourge,” he said.
He said that raising awareness about hepatitis is essential to break the stigma surrounding the disease.
