Donors commit to fund hepatitis elimination program

Rawalpindi:

The US-based global health task force has suspended essential funding for the Local Hepatitis Elimination and Prevention Program (LHEAP), which provides free diagnosis and treatment of the disease to 46 union councils, city-based businessmen and philanthropists. Necessary funds. The responsibility has been taken up to ensure continuous medical facilities to deserving citizens.

To this end, the Red Crescent Hospital will now run a free hepatitis diagnosis and treatment program with support from business philanthropists and fundraising support from educational institutions.

Prominent businessmen and philanthropists of the city, who attended the meeting of the Red Crescent Council chaired by Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatta, assured that the hepatitis-free diagnosis and treatment project will not be stopped and full funding will be provided for the project. financial support.

The Dengue and Infectious Diseases Unit located in the basement of the Red Crescent Hospital will be demolished next month at the Holy Family Hospital and a burns unit will be set up there later, which will be funded by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, a Red Crescent Council meeting was informed. and other charitable sectors.

The Red Crescent Hospital will act as an institution to control the free hepatitis diagnosis and treatment system.

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The salaries of the Hepatitis Control Program Director and 50 staff members will also be financially supported by businessmen and philanthropists within the Red Crescent Council.

Red Crescent Hospital Director Dr Ansar Ishaq said the hospital will be a center with the best treatment facilities. “Currently, a large dialysis unit is functioning within the hospital and a modern laboratory is also functioning,” he said.

Dr. Ishaq said that with the financial support of the Red Crescent Council, the hospital will not only establish the best treatment system but will also continue to provide free diagnosis and treatment facilities for hepatitis.

Viral hepatitis B and C cause 1.1 million deaths and 3 million new infections worldwide each year. Participants were told that shockingly only 10% of people with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are diagnosed and only 22% receive treatment. Similarly, 21% of people diagnosed with hepatitis C infection received treatment, accounting for only 62% of those diagnosed.

Published in Express Tribune, November 22^{Unknown date.}2023.