CHARSADDA: Health practitioners in Charsadda recorded an alarming increase in Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B, where a total of 176 patients have been diagnosed with hepatitis in various hospitals of Charsadda in the last month.
According to official data, 151 cases of Hepatitis C and 25 cases of Hepatitis B have been reported. World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on July 28 every year, but due to a lack of funds, no awareness seminar on Hepatitis has been organised in the last three years.
The Pathology Department of District Headquarters Hospital Charsadda reported a total of 176 cases of Hepatitis in Charsadda in July alone. A total of 1371 people were tested for hepatitis in July, out of which 95 people were diagnosed with hepatitis C and 21 people with hepatitis B. Similarly, according to the data of Women and Children Hospital Rajar, Tehsil Hospital Tangi, Tehsil Hospital Shabqadar, a total of 2058 people have been screened in the last one month, out of which 56 cases of hepatitis C and four cases of hepatitis B have been reported.
Regarding the increasing cases of hepatitis in Charsadda, Dr. Ashfaq of Charsadda Hospital, says that the use of contaminated water for drinking, substandard food items, lack of personal hygiene, lack of using new syringes while getting vaccinated, lack disinfecting the instruments used for dental treatment and extraction, lack of germ-proof surgical instruments repeated use of blade are the main reasons for increase the ratio.
In this regard, Hepatitis Focal Person in the district, Dr. Zeeshan, says that there is a strict system of monitoring and testing facilities for hepatitis in all the small and big hospitals of Charsadda. In the past, due to a lack of awareness, the affected people did not get tested, due to hepatitis cases not reported. However, due to the strict monitoring system, thousands of tests are conducted monthly, where, after diagnosis, the affected patients are provided with treatment facilities.
It should be remembered that 19,000 deaths occur in Pakistan every year. On the other hand, World Hepatitis Awareness Day is celebrated on July 28 every year, but due to a lack of funds, no seminar or awareness workshop has been organised on hepatitis awareness for the past several years. Due to a lack of awareness and failure to implement preventive measures, a total of 176 people have been infected with hepatitis in various hospitals of Charsadda in the last single month of July.
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