Experts call for adoption of comprehensive strategy to stop hepatitis spread

Liver specialists have urged the government to adopt a “comprehensive strategy” to combat the silent killer, viral hepatitis.

They made the appeal on the World Hepatitis Day, which had the message: “act now”.

Rallies, seminars, and discussions were held to observe the day with Attorney General Mahbubey Alam launching the day’s events by flagging off a cycle rally from the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka University.

Over 15 million people in Bangladesh are estimated to be affected by hepatitis B and C each year with as many as 20,000 dying of the disease.

The number is higher than malaria, TB and cholera deaths put together.

Prof Mohammad Ali, Secretary General of the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh, said in a discussion that a “comprehensive strategy” was needed to contain the disease.

He said most people come to know of the presence of the hepatitis virus in their blood at a fairly advanced stage.

“About 60 percent to 70 percent of people don’t get to know they are infected at the beginning,” he said.

“The ailment silently kills,” he said, specially mentioning hepatitis B and C viruses that are transmitted through unsafe blood, injections, and sex.

The Singapore-based Coalition to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis in Asia Pacific (CEVHAP) also urged the Bangladesh government to take action now against this backdrop.

In a statement it said simple solutions could make “a big difference”.

For example, unsafe injection practices are responsible for many of the new hepatitis B or C infections in Bangladesh.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam opens a cycle rally at Dhaka's Central Shaheed Minar on Tuesday to mark the 'World Hepatitis Day-2015'. Photo: asaduzzaman pramanik

The National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh organised a cycle rally from the Central Shaheed Minar, in Dhaka, to mark the World Hepatitis Day on Tuesday. Photo: asaduzzaman pramanik

Preventing the reuse of syringes could reduce the number of hepatitis C cases by over 1.5 million, and hepatitis B by close to 280,000.

Prof Ali lamented that people still go to faith healers or spiritual healers to cure hepatitis.

He said a “comprehensive viral hepatitis strategy” would help address a wide range of issues from raising awareness to ensuring treatment.

He also stressed screening at the community level to contain the spread by early detection.

President of the Foundation Prof Harunur Rashid said the vaccines, particularly of hepatitis B, should be given as early as possible.

The government is currently giving the hepatitis B vaccine at the age of six weeks, but Prof Rashid said it should be given within 24 hours of birth to minimise the risk.

WHO’s Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh said governments of the Southeast Asia region need “to ensure adequate and equitable access” to hepatitis prevention and control measures.

In a statement she said the situation was “alarming” within the region.

She, however, said the responsibility also lay with individuals, as many were “unaware” about their infection.

“We are living with this risk, and unless we act now, it can be catastrophic,” she said in a statement.