Today is World Hepatitis Day - One crore people are infected with hepatitis virus

World Hepatitis Day is being observed on 28th July with the theme 'Now is the time to act'. In 2008, the World Hepatitis Alliance took the initiative to celebrate Hepatitis Day to raise awareness among the people of the world.

One crore people of the country are infected with hepatitis B and C virus
One crore people of the country are infected with hepatitis B and C virus. Among them, 85 lakh people are infected with hepatitis B and 1.5 lakh people with hepatitis C virus. This number is less than the previous 10 years. However, there is no accurate information about the absence of a survey after 2018 at the national level.
According to Hepatology Society Bangladesh, there has been no change in the rate of hepatitis in the last five years. This is because 90 percent of people do not know about their disease. The level of disease of the affected people is increasing and spreading to others. And those who are aware of the disease are hiding it due to superstition and deprivation.
Apart from this, there is no sufficient statistics, there are no guidelines even though there is a plan to eradicate the disease at the national level, no effective measures are taken by fixing the target and free vaccinations are given, but the government allocation in the field of treatment is low, so the incidence rate is not changing.
World Hepatitis Day is being celebrated on Sunday. This year's theme of the day is 'Now is the time to take effective action'. The day is observed every year on July 28 to create awareness.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hepatology Department Professor and Hepatology Society Bangladesh General Secretary Dr. Shahinul Alam told Kal Kantha, "According to our opinion, currently 5.1 percent of people have hepatitis B. Out of this 57 lakh men and 28 lakh women. This number is lower than at any time in the past. In other words, the trend of hepatitis is decreasing.
In 1983, 10 percent of people nationwide were infected with hepatitis, a number that has declined significantly today.
This is because of our EPI program. Children are being vaccinated all over the country under this. We have covered 95 percent of children. But it is stuck at 4 to 6 percent. It is not possible to reduce it. We have been stuck in this situation since 2014.
Dr. Shahinul Alam said, "The rate of infection decreased at the rate before, it is not possible at present. We have some crisis. The Hepatitis Alliance of the World Health Organization has highlighted some of our barriers. According to the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, published in December 2022, the barriers are — lack of adequate statistics, elimination plan but no national plan on how to eliminate BOC virus, lack of national guidelines.
Former Professor of Hepatology Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). Selimur Rahman said, many people in the village still rub their skin when they are jaundiced. It is too late for them to get proper treatment. At this time the disease goes deeper. To solve this, education and awareness among people should be increased. Apart from this, testing facilities and liver transplant system should be created at the government level. The availability of drugs in this treatment should be increased.
He said, once patients infected with C virus used to die more. It was also very expensive. It used to cost around 80 lakh to 1 crore to treat patients at the private level. When the government waived the tax on its generic products, medical costs immediately fell. Currently, the cost of this treatment ranges from 80 thousand to a maximum of 1 lakh rupees. Patients have been getting this benefit for five-six years.
Dr. Selimur Rahman said, all types of liver treatment are sufficient in the country. However, there is a crisis in the liver transplant system.