World Hepatitis Day was observed on Monday to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, a major cause of severe liver disease and liver cancer worldwide. This year’s theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” highlights the need to dismantle financial, social, and systemic barriers obstructing efforts toward hepatitis elimination and liver cancer prevention.
In messages delivered on the occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of raising public awareness and adopting a coordinated national response to combat hepatitis effectively.
President Zardari described viral hepatitis as an ongoing public health challenge, with millions of people silently affected due to late diagnosis, lack of awareness, and insufficient healthcare services. He called for comprehensive strategies that include mass awareness campaigns, effective vaccination, timely screening, and accessible treatment for all.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending hepatitis and safeguarding public health. He highlighted the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the elimination of Hepatitis C, an ambitious initiative aiming to screen over 165 million people by 2030 and provide free treatment to those testing positive.
The observance of World Hepatitis Day serves as a crucial reminder of the urgent need for collective action to reduce the burden of hepatitis and prevent liver cancer in the country.
