MINISTER for Planning and Development Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, who is known for conceiving and initiating critical initiatives for the welfare of the common man, has expressed the confidence that hepatitis will be eradicated from the country during the next three to four years. Chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Monday, he said the goal is realizable as Egypt did so in just three years. He revealed that the Prime Minister’s programme for prevention and control of diabetes would also be launched.
It is a matter of concern that despite the level of their prevalence, both hepatitis and diabetes remained as low priorities by the successive governments leaving ordinary souls at the mercy of circumstances. Pakistan has a high burden of viral hepatitis, with 4.8% of the population infected with HCV and 2.4% infected with HBV putting Pakistan second in the world for the disease’s burden. The situation would have been different if some of the programmes launched in the past like free vaccination/treatment and provision of clean drinking water were not abandoned midway due to lack of commitment and paucity of resources. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the target of 2030 for elimination of hepatitis and the Minister’s resolve to do so in Pakistan in the next three/four years is appreciable and we hope a comprehensive but workable plan will be unfolded for the purpose. The situation is also alarming in respect of diabetes as, according to the International Diabetes Federation, its prevalence in the adult population of Pakistan stood at 26.7% in 2022. This calls for an urgent programme aimed at creating awareness as well as prevention of the disease.
