::: HCV News :::

Bangladesh is a poor country - always having to suffer the wrath of the tropical storms and floods. It has an estimated population of 150,448,339 as on July 2007.

The Daily Star Newspaper reports, 10% population infected with hepatitis B

It also says, THREE per cent of the population are infected with Hep C - about 4.5 million people!

Around 10 percent of the country's total population is infected with hepatitis B virus and 3 percent with hepatitis C virus, said the experts at a discussion yesterday.

They said 3.5 percent of the pregnant mothers in the country are affected with hepatitis B.

The discussion was organised by Liver Foundation of Bangladesh to mark the World Hepatitis Awareness Day at Birdem auditorium in the city.

Speaking as chief guest at the discussion, Health Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman stressed the need for creating mass awareness about hepatitis B and C to prevent the deadly diseases.

He said suffering from hepatitis B for a long time increases the risk of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure.

The adviser said the government is going to include hepatitis B vaccine with national immunisation programme.

"As the treatment of liver diseases is very expensive, its prevention should be our main strategy," said Prof AK Azad Khan of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (Dab).

He said if the liver diseases reach an advanced stage, only transplantation of liver could be the solution.

Dab is going to start liver transplantation soon at a reduced cost, he added.

Prof AQM Mohsen presented the keynote paper at the discussion chaired by Prof SN Samad Chowdhury.

The experts said it is possible to cure 30 to 60 percent of hepatitis B patients if treated properly.

But the treatment of hepatitis C in our country is not so optimistic and the vaccine of hepatitis C is yet to be invented, they added.

Using disposable syringe and needle can help prevent the spread of the diseases, said the experts, adding that nobody should use toothbrush and razors of others.

They said there is less possibility of transmitting the viruses from sexual intercourse and breast-feeding.

Around 600 million people in the world are infected with hepatitis B and C. Of them, 350-400 million people are infected with hepatitis B and 180 million infected with hepatitis C.

Maj Gen (Retd) Prof AR Khan, Brig Gen (Retd) Prof Abdul Malik, Emad Ul Ameen, Zeba Rasheed Chowdhury, Prof Mohammad Ali of Liver Foundation and Prof M Anisur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.

This was the first time that Bangladesh observed the day with the slogan 'Get Tested.'

European Liver Patient Association (ELPA) and World Health Organisation, Europe have been observing the day since 2004 through different programmes.

This year around 40 countries observed the World Hepatitis Awareness Day.