IMPACT OF POOR HEALTH ON LABOR PRODUCTIVITY: AN INSIGHT INTO HEPATITIS RELATED ISSUES IN PAKISTAN WORKFORCE.

SITUATION OF HEPATITIS IN PAKISTAN

• World Health Organization (WHO) has rated Pakistan as 2nd Country in the world having high rates of chronic infections.

• It is estimated that 18 million Pakistani population is infected with the hepatitis . Every 10th Pakistani is believed to be suffering from viral hepatitis.

• Thousands of Pakistanis die each year from hepatitis B and its complications prematurely. Approximately 100,000 new people are infected with hepatitis B each year

SITUATION OF HEPATITIS IN PAKISTAN

• About 8.6 Million Pakistanis are affected with Hepatitis C according to the WHO report.

• A research conducted in 2013 shows that 11 million people suffer from hepatitis C and the count of these patients is constantly swelling.

• As a result, Pakistan has been declared a “Cirrhotic State” in international health circles.

INTERVIEW WITH DOCTOR KHAWARI. How many hepatitis patients due you witness undergoing treatment at average per

month?

II. Are there more male or female occurrence? Or is hepatitis common in both genders?

III. Normally what social class do the majority of the patients belong too?

IV. How expensive is the entire treatment?

V. Is working and living condition the cause of hepatitis or specifically hepatitis B or C?

VI. Are drugs or such related activities the major reason for hepatitis B or C?

VII. Why do you think Pakistan is listed at a high rank in hepatitis prone countries?

VIII. Any comments you would like to make regarding he situation of hepatitis in Pakistan?

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE ON MAY 19TH, 2011

IMPACT OF HEPATITIS ON LIFE AND FAMILY

• Hepatitis can affect all areas of your life, including personal and family relationships, social situations, employment and plans for the future.

• Financial problem may arise due to the expenses of curing hepatitis.

• Hepatitis may also lead to physical, psychological and social hindrance.

EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE MENACE

• The most basic method to control Hepatitis is to provide the population with access to safe and clean drinking water.

• An article published by Peer Muhamad in The Tribune on December 23, 2010 blamed the contamination of the Rawal Lake for the increasing incidence of hepatitis cases and other related health problems.

BY PEER MUHAMAD IN THE TRIBUNE ON DECEMBER 23, 2010

• ‘Rawal Dam is the main source of water for Rawalpindi city….four major and 43 small streams also contribute to the reservoir. In 1995, a task force for controlling pollution in the dam was set up.

• But despite apparent orders banning construction activities in the lake’s catchment areas upstream and prohibiting the operation of cattle sheds and poultry farms along stream banks, these activities have continued unabated, resulting in flow of five million gallons of untreated sewage and other dangerous effluents into the lake daily.

• It also convicted that around 6,000 tons of garbage is produced daily from Rawalpindi and there was no place for its disposal. Nonetheless it was informed that the government did not have Rs600 billion for treating 3,600 million gallons sewage all over the country.’

EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE MENACE

• Other measures should also be taken like reduction in drugs and alcohol, using sterilized syringes and regular vaccination or routine checkups.

• Media should help to create awareness about the adverse effects of bad health and should collaborate with the government to reduce the illiteracy that exists in context of Hepatitis.

• Doctor Shahab Abid, quoted that

“Highest figures have been reported from Sindh and Baluchistan, where almost every fourth person is infected. Sadly, a majority of them are unaware that they are carriers of the deadly virus. Chronic hepatitis B and C cause more deaths worldwide than tuberculosis or even HIV/AIDS.”

POLICIES BY GOVERNMENT

• Baluchistan

• Sindh

• Karachi

• Punjab

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

POLICIES BY GOVERNMENT

INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS

• Individual efforts have also been made as Doctor Sheikh Raizuddin who has won the Sitara-e-Imtiaz has developed the low-cost interferon injection used for curing hepatitis C and proposed to sell it for Rs70 per injection – almost 100% below the prevailing market price.

- BY BUTOOL HISAMIN INTERNATIONAL NEWS — 18 OCT, 2012 AT 2:59 AM