By Dr Laila Rizvi | Executive Director
Viral hepatitis has globally affected millions of people worldwide with approximately 1.4 million deaths annually from various types of viral hepatitis. Population wise (> 8 million) and prevalence wise (5%) Pakistan has the second highest global burden of Hepatitis C virus infection. With an increasing population and rising exposure rates to the risk factors, it is estimated that approximately 240,000 new HCV cases are added annually to the existing pool with thousands dying each year due to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Less than 50% of these have access to any kind of appropriate health care
The Health Foundation through its Hepatitis Free Community models being implemented directly within high prevalent communities aim to address the key component of Pakistan National Hepatitis Strategic Framework (NHSF) for Pakistan 2017-2021 i.e. “viral hepatitis transmission is halted and everyone living with viral hepatitis has access to safe, affordable and effective prevention, care and treatment services”.
Key components of our model include Mass community awareness aimed at behavior change, Catch up Hep B vaccination and Free treatment of the poor and marginalized community in the selected areas
A project to support the treatment for 1000 poorest of the poor patients was pledged on GlobalGiving. The details to date of this support are:
1) A total of 852 patients have been registered for Hepatitis C.
2) Out of which 516 patients have completed their treatment with DAAs.
3) SVR* done on 262 patients out of which 246 have come out negative (shows 97.6 % cure rate)
*PCR done 3 months following end of treatment
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