Hepatitis epidemic in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: over 85,000 cases reported

Reported by: MANAHIL ARSHAD

PESHAWAR: A recently released document reveals a staggering public health crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where over 85,000 individuals have been diagnosed with hepatitis over the past seven years.

The data highlights an alarming spread of the disease and an urgent need for medical intervention.

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The document, detailing health statistics from the government hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, shows that Hepatitis B was diagnosed in 21,000 patients while Hepatitis C affected 63,000 individuals. This brings the total number of hepatitis cases in the region to a concerning 84,000.

Furthermore, the report uncovers that in the last two years, treatment for hepatitis patients has come to a halt, exacerbating the already dire situation. This interruption in treatment services is particularly critical given that 18,500 patients currently require immediate medical care for Hepatitis B and C.

The document also notes that a total of 1.687 million people were examined in government hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during this period.

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Despite the large-scale screening efforts, the discontinuation of treatment poses a severe risk to public health and necessitates urgent action from healthcare authorities to resume and bolster hepatitis treatment programmes.