Around one crore people have been suffering from Hepatitis B and C virus in the country, experts said at a seminar yesterday.
On the occasion of the World Hepatitis Day different organisations arranged programmes to make people aware of Hepatitis B and C virus, the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, which are taking an alarming turn across the globe.
The slogan of this year’s World Hepatitis Day is ‘This is hepatitis……….’
Currently one in every 12 has been suffering from Hepatitis B or C globally and the burden is much higher than HIV/AIDS, said the speakers at the seminar organised by the Liver Foundation of Bangladesh at Public Library auditorium.
According to the World Health Organisation, around 35 to 40 crore people across the globe have been suffering from Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and 20 lakh of them die every year. The prevalence of HBV in the country is seven percent, they said.
Though Hepatitis B can be prevented through vaccination and has treatment, Hepatitis C doesn’t. That is why it is important to create awareness in the society to prevent it, they said.
Hepatitis B and C can be transmitted sexually and through blood and blood products. New born babies also can be affected with HBV if their mothers are infected with the virus. Currently 3.5 percent of the pregnant women are suffering from HBV.
If a baby is given first dose of HBV vaccine within 24-hour of its age and then at the age of one month and six months, it could be prevented.
Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mustafa Shahid was present as the chief guest. National Prof M R Khan, WHO representative to Bangladesh Dr Arun Bhadra Thapa, Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, Prof Anisur Rahman, Liver Foundation of Bangladesh Secretary General Prof Mohammad Ali and Prof Faruque Ahmed also spoke.
-With The Daily Star input
