Infection Control Society Pakistan

Like previous years, Infection Control Society Pakistan (ICSP) has planned a three day program to commemorate the ‘World Health Day’ 2009. This program is being organized in collaboration with The Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) and Karachi Press Club (KPC), in the premises of Karachi Press Club.

The first program was a free Hepatitis B and C screening camp held at KPC.

Mr. A.H.Khanzada said that it is heartening to see that this activity is being held at KPC. He said that journalists are a very important and responsible community of the society and it is commendable that KPC has collaborated in this noble cause of Public Health importance.

Mr.Wajid Ali of ICSP said Hepatitis B and C is increasing day by day. These diseases are usually diagnosed very late when a lot of damage to liver has already occurred. That is why ICSP advocates for prevention and early diagnosis of Hepatitis and other infectious diseases. Since Hepatitis B is incurable and the treatment of Hepatitis C is very long, expensive and not very successful, it is very important that these diseases are diagnosed early and that is the main purpose of holding this free screening camp.

Professor Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor Dow University of Health Sciences in his address said that Pakistan is among those countries where Hepatitis B and C are prevalent at a high rate. This is so because we have not been able to control the various factors responsible for spread of these infectious diseases. He said that for the diagnosis and treatment of one hepatitis C patient more than one lac rupees are needed. Considering the seriousness and economic loss due to this disease we must eliminate the factor responsible i.e. unsafe blood transfusion, IV drug abuse, lack of infection control in health care. He lauded the efforts of ICSP and KPC for fulfilling their responsibility in the prevention of such diseases.