KARACHI, Dec 12: Senior medical professionals have called for public awareness with regard to prevention of hepatitis, assuming serious proportions in Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference here at Karachi Press Club on Saturday, Prof Tipu Sultan from Civil Hospital, Prof Asghar Channa and Associate Professor Liaquat Ali from Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Abu Noem Farooqui of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital appreciated the initiatives taken for establishment of The Saviours Club through joint efforts of the Pakistan Medical Association and the World Health Organization.

They said that Hepatitis B and C could be extremely hazardous and deadly if not adequately handled. The experts called for awareness at all levels for prevention of all types of the disease mentioning that while Hepatitis A and D could be treatable and self-limiting Type B and C of Hepatitis have to be averted through conscious efforts.

It was mentioned that The Saviours Club also aimed to fight against the spread of hepatitis and to promote safe and ethical practice among medical professionals and create public awareness.

The club is an independent entity being operated by the doctors while Otsuka Pakistan Ltd is supporting this project for the noble cause to contain spread of hepatitis virus.

The experts cautioned that incidence of hepatitis was fast rising and prevalence of the disease was increasing all over the world especially in developing countries where one of the main causes was lack of awareness.

The senior professionals also reminded certain factors like the practice of unnecessary needle pricking and administration of intra-venous drips, which were generally overlooked.

Meanwhile, the PMA stated that it was the duty of all doctors and concerned citizens to create awareness regarding hepatitis and make sure that this preventable disease should not stay in our community for a long period.

According to the PMA press release, hepatitis is increasing rapidly in the country and 10 per cent of population is affected by this virus. The infection was usually spread by intimate contacts, use of contaminated syringes, unhygienic practices at barber shops and failure of screening of blood at blood banks, the press release added. -APP