As an increased spread of Hepatitis B and C virus play havoc with life of millions across Pakistan, the disease poses a serious public health challenge for the government, health industry and the community at large.
The epidemic spread of the disease has fractured the socio-economic fabric of society pushing the cash starved national economy to a state of frustration and helplessness. Global perspective: According to UN World Health Organisation (WHO), there are about 520 million individuals suffering from Hepatitis B or C worldwide.
More than five million people in South and Southeast Asia will die from viral hepatitis over the next decade as experts warn of a rampant epidemic that has already taken more lives than malaria, dengue and HIV/AIDS combined in the past 10 years. These disturbing figures are revealed as the International community marked the World Hepatitis Day on July 28.
National threat: In Pakistan, 15 percent of the total population is a victim of this deadly virus. However, the highest prevalence of the disease is noted in Central Punjab districts, including Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Chiniot, are the most affected areas where surveys show that one in every four individuals is suffering from Hepatitis B or C or both, meaning the incidence is as high as 25 percent.
As Pakistan has no liver transplant facility available in the country, despite the availability of numerous highly skilled transplant experts, a substantial amount of foreign exchange is remitted to India and China by the families who need liver transplant of their near and dear ones to get rid of this menace.
Ray of Hope: Under this gloomy scenario, Liver Centre Faisalabad is a bright ray of hope for thousands of Hepatitis patients. The project which is the brain child of Dr Zahid Yaseen Hashmi, chairman of the Liver Foundation Trust, is undoubtedly the first of its kind in Pakistan. The centre was set up in 2005 at a piece of land provided by the government in the premises of District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and has been run by a 25-member Board of Trustees.
Over a period of six years, the centre has grown into a high-tech, state-of-the-art treatment facility equipped with the advanced diagnostic and treatment machinery. Today, it has an in-patient department of 50 beds, OPD, Ultrasound, Laboratory and facility of advance treatment procedures such as balloon dilation of strictures, GI endoscopy, ERCP, PTC, PEG feeding tubes, liver tumour biopsies and abscesses drainage.
Ultimate goal: “Obviously, liver transplantation is our ultimate goal and the facility will be available in a few years time,” Dr Hashmi. So far liver transplants are not carried out in Pakistan and if the Liver Foundation Trust is able to generate funds ranging between Rs 200 million to Rs 300 million, Faisalabad will be the first to launch this pioneering facility
The cost of liver transplant in China and India is around Rs 1.5 million but in Pakistan the cost could be slashed to Rs 300,000 only.