Islamabad: On World Hepatitis Day, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have emphasized the need for enhanced preventive measures, expanded screening, testing, and treatment facilities to combat Hepatitis in Pakistan.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, both leaders issued separate statements urging increased efforts to reduce the impact of Hepatitis, which claims numerous lives globally each year. President Zardari highlighted the importance of early screening and diagnosis to alleviate the strain on the public health system. He called on the media, educational institutions, students, and civil society to increase awareness about the prevention and treatment of Hepatitis.
Prime Minister Sharif announced a new national campaign to eradicate Hepatitis C, aligning with the Global Strategy to tailor testing and treatment services to local needs. He assured that all citizens would have free access to Hepatitis C screening and treatment facilities. Reflecting on his tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab, Sharif cited the establishment of the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute and Hepatitis Filter Clinics across all 36 districts of Punjab as benchmarks of success.
On this day, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to overcoming Hepatitis, highlighting collective efforts to support affected individuals and advance toward eradicating the disease from Pakistan.