ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, in a message on the eve of World Hepatitis Day, has said viral hepatitis continued to pose a public health challenge with millions silently suffer due to late diagnosis, lack of awareness and inadequate healthcare services.

While World Hepatitis Day will be observed today (Monday) under a theme ‘Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down’.

“Hepatitis is often called as a ‘silent killer’. It progresses unnoticed until it causes irreversible liver damage. If left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications such as cirrhosis and liver failure. Raising public awareness must remain central to our efforts. The more people understand the risks, the better equipped they will be to protect themselves and their families,” he said.

“On this day, I call upon all stakeholders—government institutions, healthcare professionals, private sector partners, media, and civil society—to join hands in a unified response to combat hepatitis. We can defeat this challenge through collective efforts,” Mr Zardari said.

World Hepatitis Day today being observed today

In a statement, CEO of ChildLife Foundation Dr. Ahson Rabbani said that Pakistan bears the second-highest global burden of hepatitis C after Egypt, with an estimated 9.7 million people infected.

“The national prevalence rate of hepatitis C stands at 4.3per cent, nearly 10 times the global average, with even higher rates in rural and underserved areas. Unsafe medical practices, reuse of syringes, unregulated blood transfusions, and poor sanitation are major contributors to the spread,” he said.

“Children are at particular risk. Hepatitis A (HAV), spread through contaminated food and water, affects 90pc of children before the age of 10, with nearly all testing positive for HAV antibodies by adolescence. Hepatitis E (HEV) also remains common, particularly among older children and young adults,” Dr Rabbani said.

Since 2010, ChildLife Foundation has been on the frontlines of paediatric healthcare in Pakistan, offering free 24/7 emergency treatment in over 300 government hospitals across the country. In the last 12 months, more than 5,000 children with hepatitis-related illnesses were treated in Emergency Rooms.

The organisation has urged policymakers, healthcare providers, civil society, and the public to play their part by promoting awareness, improving sanitation, ensuring vaccine access, and encouraging testing.

“As we will observe World Hepatitis Day today, let us renew our commitment to ending this silent epidemic. Together, we can reduce the hepatitis burden and protect every child’s right to a healthy future,” Dr. Rabbani said.

World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy has reaffirmed commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

“Across the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 27 million people live with chronic hepatitis—15 million with hepatitis B and 12 million with hepatitis C. In 2022 alone, we saw 183,000 new hepatitis C cases, 86,000 hepatitis B infections, and 97,000 hepatitis-related deaths. Despite these challenges, we are leading global progress in hepatitis C elimination,” she said.

“Egypt has achieved WHO gold tier status, reducing hepatitis C deaths by 35pc since 2018. In Pakistan, the government is building capacity to treat at least half of its hepatitis C infected populationabout 5 million peopleby 2027. However, hepatitis B remains significantly under-prioritised across the region. Just 14pc of people living with hepatitis B are diagnosed, and less than 2pc receive treatment,” she said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has announced a hepatitis awareness campaign to highlight the importance of prevention, timely diagnosis, and effective treatment of hepatitis, in connection with the day.

As part of the campaign, awareness seminars, walks, free screening camps, and other programs will be organised across the country for both the general public and healthcare professionals.

Prof Dr Atif Hafeez Siddiqui, Central President of PIMA, stated that the leading cause of hepatitis transmission in Pakistan was the use of contaminated and reused syringes and unsafe injections. He added that about 90pc of people infected with viral hepatitis were unaware of their condition, and that testing was the first and essential step toward timely treatment.

He further explained that Hepatitis A and E spread through contaminated water and unsafe food, while Hepatitis B, C, and D were transmitted via infected syringes, surgical instruments, and unsafe blood transfusions.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2025