Hepatitis claims one life in every 30 seconds worldwide: Naeb

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Around 100,000 people in Afghanistan infected with Hepatitis, an official said on Sunday.

Niaz Mohammad Naeb, the World Health Organisation (WHO) head for Northern Zone, said worldwide 304 million people have been infected with Hepatitis. In every 30 seconds one patient loses his life, he added.

He was addressing a gathering at the provincial Health Department marking the World Hepatitis Day.

He said although exact figures about Hepatitis patients in Afghanistan was not known but WHO findings showed that around 100,000 people have been infected with Hepatitis in Afghanistan, out of this figures 70,000 people are infected with Hepatitis C while 30,000 are infected with Hepatitis C.

Shaikh Mir Sadam, deputy head of the Public Health Department, said that all institutions should play its role in fight against Hepatitis.

He asked the departments of Hajj and Religious Affairs, Education Department and Counter-narcotics to support them public awareness campaign in fight against Hepatitis.

He read out the message of Public Health Minister as well in which he termed Hepatitis a threat and said migration, poverty, blood transfer and the use of one syringe by several people as the main causes of this disease.

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