world hepatitis day workshop...

World Hepatitis Day Report 2018

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World Hepatitis Day

Workshop Report July 27-31, 2018

Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi

Safe Blood Transfusion Programme Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & Coordination


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INDEX

1. List of participants……………………………………………………..……...…….…….3

2. Agenda…………………………………….………………………………...…...………..9

3. Speech by Prof. H.A Zaheer…………………………………...…………………......….12

4. Presentation on Hepatitis and Blood Safety, Pakistan Scenario….....………………..….16

5. Presentation on Blood Screening Technologies ……………….………….…..….…..…22

6. Presentation on Role of NAT screening in prevention and diagnosis………………………....25

7. Presentation on Hepatitis E, HBsAg Mutant & Occult HBV Infections in Pakistan.……........30

8. Presentation on Hepatitis Prevention in Punjab………………………………………….33

9. Presentation on …………………………………………………….…………………….33

10. Panel Discussion .…………………………………………….……………….....…...….34

11. Press Release ………..……………………………………………,……………..…........35

12. Press Coverage……..………………………………………………,……………………36

13. Photos…………………………………………………………………………...……..…38


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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Islamabad, July 27, 2018

Sr Name Designation Organization

1 Ms. Saira Tahir Programme Officer Safe Blood Tansfusion Programme

2 Ms. Kaenat Nasir Programme Officer Safe Blood Tansfusion Programme

3 Ms. Rabia Butt Representative Ali Medical Centre

4 Mr. Baber Hameed Representative Ali Medical Centre

5 Mr. Ibrar Rafique Representative Ali Medical Centre

6 Mr. Muhammad

Yousaf

Representative PIMS

8 Ms. Ujala Saeed Representative Excel Labs

9 Ms. Komal Victor Representative Excel Labs

10 Mr. Zain Shuja Representative NUST community service club

11 Ms. Eesha qureshi Representative NUST community service club

12 Mr. Abdul Hayee Representative NUST community service club

13 Ms. Mehak Nimra Representative National Institute of health

14 Mr. Zubair Niazi Executive Editor ADFLUX news/Jang lhr

15 Mr. Rajab Ali Lab Technician PAEC General Hospital

16 Ms. Sadia Rauf Representative Ali Medical Centre

17 Mr. Nadir ali Representative NUST community service club

18 Mr. Muhammd Asghar Representative PAEC General Hospital

19 Dr. Masooma Raza Consultant

Haematologist

PAEC General Hospital

20 Mr. Muhammad Aslam Trainer UHS Lahore

21 Ms. Saima Noman Supervisor Lab Quaid-e-Azam Int'l Hospital

22 Dr. Ayesha Tariq Molecular Biologist PAEC General Hospital

23 Dr Hafsa Aziz Senior Scientist NORI Hospital

24 Dr. M. Saeed Representative THQ Murree

26 Dr. M. safdar RMU Holy Family Hospital

27 Dr. Ali Mustafa Representative University of Lahore

28 Mr. Umair Hassan Representative Ali Medical Centre

29 Dr. Muhammad Idrees RMU Holy Family Hospital

30 Dr Tanveer-ul-Haq Zia Representative University of Lahore

31 Mr. M. Jawad Representative University of Lahore

32 Mr. Taimoor Haider

shah

Representative University of Lahore

33 Ms. Hannan Shaukat Representative University of Lahore

34 Ms. Ayesha Anis Representative University of Lahore

35 Ms. Minahil Ehsan Representative University of Lahore

36 Ms. Hira Tariq Representative University of Lahore

37 Ms. Abroo Basharat Representative University of Lahore


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38 Ms. Wania Sajid Representative University of Lahore

39 Ms. Fatima Mustafa Representative University of Lahore

40 Mr. M. Awais Qarni Representative University of Lahore

41 Ms. Anum Zahra naqvi Representative University of Lahore

42 Ms. Kainat Naseer Representative University of Lahore

43 Ms. Bisma Najjad Representative University of Lahore

44 Mr. Fahad Tufail Representative University of Lahore

45 Mr. Abdul Quddus Representative Kulsum Int'l Hospital

46 Mr. Naseer Masih Representative Maroof Int'l Hospital

47 Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed Representative Maroof Int'l Hospital

48 Ms. Amna Batool Representative Islamabad Medical and Dental College

49 Dr. Asfa Zawar Representative Islamabad Medical and Dental College

50 Ms. Mamoona javed Representative Islamabad Medical and Dental College

51 Mr. Ahmed Sultan Representative Islamabad Medical and Dental College

52 Mr. Bilal Abbas Representative Excel Labs

53 Mr. Abdul Waheed Representative Excel Labs

54 Mr. Fahad Hussain Representative University of Lahore


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Lahore, July 31,2018

Sr Name Designation Hospital

1 Dr. Shahid Ahmed Incharge Blood Bank Lahore General Hospital

2 Dr. M. Ali Khawaja Incharge Blood Bank Mayo Hospital Lahore

3 Dr. Fareed Ahmed Afzal Incharge Blood Bank Punjab Social Security

Hospital

4 Prof. Ayesha Ehsan Incharge Blood Bank Fatima Memorial Hospital

5 Dr. Ghulam Rasool Sial Incharge Blood Bank Ittefaq Hospital Trust

6 Dr. Aalia Khurram Khan Incharge Blood Bank Mid City Hospital Blood

Bank

7 Dr. Atta Ullah Roshani Incharge Blood Bank Sundus Foundation

8 Dr. M. Shafique Incharge Blood Bank DHQ Kot Khawaja Saeed

9 Dr. Farhan Shaukat Incharge Blood Bank Sharif Medical City Hospital

10 Dr. Asad Hayat Ahmed Incharge Blood Bank Shaukat Khanum Hospital

11 Dr. Zafar Iqbal Sheikh Incharge Blood Bank Surgimed Hospital

12 Dr. Zahid Asghar Incharge Blood Bank Doctor's Hospital & Medical

Centre

13 Prof. Dr. Abdur Rahman Incharge Blood Bank Gulab Devi Hospital

14 Dr. Yahya Saleem Incharge Blood Bank Cavalry Hospital Blood Bank

15 Col (Rtd) Dr. M. Jan Leghari Incharge Blood Bank Bahria Int'l Hospital

16 Dr. Asma Saadia Incharge Blood Bank Shalamar Hospital

17 Dr. M. Asif Naveed Incharge Blood Bank Al-Khidmat Blood Bank

18 Prof Dr. Mona Aziz Gilani Incharge Blood Bank Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lhr

19 Dr. Shakeel Arif Incharge Blood Bank Akram Medical Complex,

Excel Lab

20 Dr. Tanveer-ul-Islam Incharge Blood Bank Amina Bashir Memorial Trust

21 Dr. M. Farooq Khan Incharge Blood Bank Farooq Hospital

22 Dr. Naveed Toosy Incharge Blood Bank OMC Hospital

23 Brig (Rtd) Dr. Abdus Sattar Incharge Blood Bank Bahria Int'l Hospital


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24 D.r M. Nadir Khan Incharge Blood Bank Iqbal Medical Complex

25 Dr. Malika Incharge Blood Bank Farooq Hospital

26 Dr. Farzana Aslam Incharge Blood Bank Lady Aitchison Hospital

27 Dr. Shahida Mohsin Incharge Blood Bank Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif

Hospital

28 Dr. Muhammad Zafar Incharge Blood Bank Hamid Latif Hospital Lhr

29 Dr. Imtiaz Waqar Incharge Blood Bank Lady Willington Hospital

30 Dr. Hashmat Mumtaz Rao Incharge Blood Bank Arif Memorial Teaching

Hospital

31 Dr. Alia Waheed Incharge Blood Bank Akhtar Saeed Trust Hospital

32 Dr. Farhana Incharge Blood Bank Fatimid Foundation

33 Dr. M. Asif Hussain Khan Incharge Blood Bank Aadil Hospital

34 Dr. Saima Irum Incharge Blood Bank Jinnah Hospital Lahore

35 Dr. Ahsan Masood Khan Incharge Blood Bank Masood Hospital

36 Dr. Muhammad Qadeer Incharge Blood Bank District Blood Unit Services

Hospital

37 Dr. Shabnam Bashir Incharge Blood Bank Punjab Thalassameia

Prevention Programme

38 Dr. Nazish Saqlain Incharge Blood Bank Children Hospital Lhr

39 Prof. Nisar Ahmed Incharge Blood Bank Children Hospital Lhr

40 Dr. Ayesha Imran Incharge Blood Bank National Medical Centre

DHA

41 Dr. Zafar Iqbal Incharge Blood Bank IBTS

42 Dr. Ather Incharge Blood Bank PBTA

43 Dr. Asif Naveed Incharge Blood Bank King Edward Medical

University

44 Mr. Ahmed Representative Almueed BDS

45 Mr. Hassan Ameer Representative Sheikh zahid hospital

46 Mr. Ali Ahmed Representative PUCIT

47 Mr. M. Rashid Representative SOCH foundation


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48 Mr. Khuram Representative USA

49 Mr. Arslan Representative Shadra green blood

50 Mr. Awais Representative AIMC

51 Mr. Hassan Representative PBDS

52 Mr. Naimat ullah Representative Hajvery

53 Mr. Mubashir Representative UMT

54 Mr. Noman Representative Ali Baba Foundation

55 Mr. Hamza Representative We Care foundation

56 Mr. Jawaid Awan Representative Life foundation

57 Mr. Rana osama Representative Save humanity

58 Mr. Syed Abdullah Representative GCU

59 Mr. Ashir Representative PAC

60 Mr. Hammad Representative Ripha

61 Mr. Talha Naseer Representative Jido jahad

62 Mr. Azka Representative LMDS

63 Mr. Shoaib Representative UET

64 Mr. Umer Khan Representative LSE

65 Mr. Nauman Representative COMSATS Lhr

66 Mr. Hassan Raza Representative University Of Education

67 Mr. Aquib Representative Bahria University

68 Mr. Shahrukh Taimoor Representative Beaconhouse National

University

69 Mr. Asim Representative University Of Lahore

70 Mr. Zain Naveed Representative FAST University

71 Mr. Mujahid Representative LEEDS University

72 Mr. Usman Representative UCP

73 Ms. Hijab Fatima Representative GC University

74 Mr. Saad Chawla Representative LUMS


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Karachi, July 30, 2018

Sr. Name Designation Organization

1. Prof Syed M. Irfan Consultant

Haematologist

Liaqat National Hospital,

2. Dr. Shabneez Hussain

Consultant

Haematologist

Fatimid Foundation

3. Dr. Zahid Hasan Ansari Secretary Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority

4. Prof. Ikram uddin Ujjan Consultant

Haematologist

Liaqat University of Medical &

Health Sciences,

5. Dr Bushra Moeez, Head of Blood Bank

Services

Aga Khan University Hospital

6. Dr. Saba Jamal Head of Blood Bank

Services

The Indus Hospital

7. Dr. Sarfaraz Hussain Jafri Director of Blood Bank

Services

Hussaini Blood Bank

8. Dr. Muhammad Anwar Assistant Professor Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre

(JPMC)

9. Dr. Waleed Bin Azhar COO Fatimid Foundation

10. Mr. Akif Ali Atif Representative National Institute of Blood Disease

(NIBD)

11. Dr. Agha Umer Daraz Consultant

Haematologist

Liaqat National Hospital,

12. Mr. M. Moin Ahmed Manager Blood Bank Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre

(JPMC)

13. Dr. Saadia Saeed Pathologist SIUT

14. Dr. Ashraf Memon Consultant Pathologist -

15. Dr. Saeeda Incharge Blood Bank PWA, Civil Hospital

16. Dr. Munira Borhany Consultant

Haematologist

National Institute of Blood Disease

(NIBD)

17. Mr. Mehdi Rizvi Representative Mohammadi Blood Bank

18. Mr. S. Arif Ali Founder & Chairman Help International Welfare Trust

19. Dr. Kashif H. Ansari President Omair Sana Foundation

20. Mr. Wasiq Paracha President Patients’ Welfare Association

Civil Hospital,

21. Mr. Muhammad Iqbal Chairman Kashif Iqbal Thalassemia Care

Centre (Trust)

22. Mr. Javeed Qaim Ali Project Incharge Burhani BB and Thalassaemia

Centre

23. Dr. Asima Zahid

HOD MBA Health

Management

Programme,

Institute of Business Management

24. Prof. Agha Akbar Head of Pathology

Department

Dow University of Health Sciences


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AGENDA

World Hepatitis Day Marriott Hotel, Islamabad, July 27, 2018

Agenda

10:30 am Registration

11:00 am Recitation from the Holy Quran

11:05 am Welcome Remarks

11:10 am Hepatitis and Blood Safety: Pakistan Scenario Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer

11:30 am Hepatitis Screening Technologies Brig. (R) Prof. Javaid Usman

11:50 am Role of NAT screening in prevention and diagnosis Dr. Ayesha Junaid

12:10 pm Hepatitis E, HBsAg Mutant & Occult HBV Infections in Pakistan Mr. Usman Waheed

12:30 pm Panel Discussion

o Sub-standard manual screening kits

o Screening Technology options for Hepatitis detection

o Rising Prevalence of Hepatitis in Blood Donors

o Hepatitis B and C Prevalence in Thalassaemia and Haemophilia

01:00 pm Address by Chief Guest

01:15 pm Group Photograph

01:20 pm Lunch


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World Hepatitis Day PC Hotel, Lahore, July 31, 2018

Agenda





11:30 am Hepatitis Screening Technologies Dr. Shabnam Bashir

11:50 am Hepatitis Prevention in Punjab Dr. Syeda Zahida Sarwar









01:20 pm Lunch


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World Hepatitis Day Marriott Hotel, Karachi, July 30, 2018

Agenda





11:30 am Hepatitis Screening Technologies Dr. Ashraf Memon

11:50 am Early detection of viral hepatitis in healthy donors by NAT screening

Prof. Bushra Moiz









01:20 pm Lunch


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SPEECH BY PROF. HASAN ABBAS ZAHEER, NATIONAL COORDINATOR SBTP

Globally, viral hepatitis is a major public health challenge that requires urgent attention and response.

The disease caused 1.34 million deaths in 2015, a number comparable to annual deaths caused by

tuberculosis worldwide and higher than that caused by HIV. But while the tuberculosis and HIV

epidemics are being managed successfully and their mortalities reducing, the viral hepatitis epidemic

is still on the rise. To address this alarming scenario, the UN General Assembly in 2015 adopted the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which called on the international community to eliminate

hepatitis and followed it up by presenting the ‘Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis’ in

the World Health Assembly in 2016. To implement this Strategy, a global plan was outlined in the

‘Global Health Report 2017’ to contain and reverse the hepatitis epidemic through a number of key

interventions and scaled up interventions. To highlight the scale of the hepatitis epidemic and raise

awareness about its prevention the World Health Organization has designated July 28 as the World

Hepatitis Day.

Viral hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver caused by five main hepatitis viruses commonly referred

to as types A, B, C, D and E. While all hepatitis viruses can cause acute hepatitis, Hepatitis B, C and

D frequently cause chronic hepatitis, which can lead to progressive scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)

and to primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). HBV and HCV cause 96% of the mortality

from viral hepatitis and usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids.

Common modes of transmission include transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products,

invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for hepatitis B transmission from

mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact. Hepatitis A and E

infections are usually self-limiting and are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or

water. Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as


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jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and

abdominal pain. Hepatitis can also be caused by other infections, toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, certain

drugs), and autoimmune diseases.

Credible epidemiological evidence clearly demonstrates that elimination of viral hepatitis is possible.

Universal coverage of Hepatitis B vaccine has established excellent results in containing the spread

of Hepatitis B epidemic. The introduction of recent antiviral drugs treatment for chronic Hepatitis C

infections has recorded cure rates exceeding 95%. Strengthening the blood supply system in countries

with advanced health care systems has made blood transfusions very safe and largely risk free as far

as transmission of transmissible infections are concerned. Improving injection safety in many

countries has contained the spread of hepatitis through this mode of transmission. The design of the

response to global hepatitis epidemic is based on all these proven successful interventions. Even at

this early stage, several countries with committed political leadership have demonstrated encouraging

results in containing hepatitis epidemic through reduction in prices of essential medicines, reduction

in cost of screen testing, improving blood transfusion screening systems and ensuring universal

coverage of Hepatitis B vaccination.

In Pakistan, all the five main types of viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E) are epidemic. Most of the

population is affected by Hepatitis A (Childhood) or E (Adulthood) with maximum morbidity. At the

same time, Pakistan is also facing the epidemic of Hepatitis B and C. The last national survey

conducted in 2008 showed 2.5% prevalence of HBV and 4.9% prevalence of HCV. HBV was more

prevalent in males (2.9%) as compared to females (2.0%). But there was no gender difference in the

HCV prevalence and overall Pakistan has the highest HCV prevalence after Egypt. The common

causes of transmission identified in the Report and other research publications include contaminated

blood transfusions, therapeutic injections, reuse of syringes and medical devices, injecting drug use,

dental procedures, renal dialysis, shaving by barbers and commercial sex work.

In countries with developed health care systems, high standards of quality of blood and blood

components throughout the entire blood transfusion chain has led to high level of human health

protection and generated faith and confidence in the system among the donors as well as the users.

Challenging standards of quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, screening, storage

and distribution of human blood and blood components have been set and successfully attained. As a

result, incidence of transmission of hepatitis viruses through contaminated blood transfusions is

extremely rare in such countries.

On the other hand, the health care systems of developing countries continuously face challenges of

inadequate supply of safe blood and an increase in the prevalence of transfusion associated infections

including hepatitis. Until 2010, the situation in Pakistan was also no different and the quality of blood

transfusion services was adversely affected due to the imbalance in the supply and demand. According

to national estimates, 3.5 million donations are made annually in Pakistan and this huge amount of

blood collected used to be a potential key vector for transmitting infectious diseases, affecting about

7.4 percent of the population. Screening for transfusion-transmissible infections is a critical part of

the process of ensuring that transfusion is as safe and infection free as possible. In a fragmented blood


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transfusion system and with an only incipient culture of voluntary donations, a strong reliance on

family replacement donors, and the lack of systematic screening strategy, the infection risks were at

the upper end. A large community of thalassaemic patients in the country (6% carrier rate) faced an

imminent risk of acquiring infection through blood transfusion since they receive multiple

transfusions every year.

To reduce the risk of transmission of infections through blood transfusions and improve the blood

transfusion services, the Government of Pakistan with the support from the Government of Germany

initiated the blood safety systems reforms in Pakistan in 2010. The reforms included the formulation

of a national blood policy and strategic framework and the establishment of a national blood

transfusion programme. At the federal level, the government’s Safe Blood Transfusion Programme

(SBTP) performs the role of a central coordinating body to oversee policy planning, provide strategic

guidelines, set standards, monitor and evaluate programmes, liaise with development partners and

report on international commitments. The Programme is developing a nationwide blood transfusion

infrastructure which consists of constructing and equipping a network of regional blood centres and

renovation and refurbishment of the existing hospital blood banks. The model is consistent with

international recommendations of separation of blood production and blood utilization and regulated

through a functioning oversight mechanism. The Programme also covers the associated technical work

to prepare the system to function according to the international guidelines and directives.

The overall objective of the Programme is to provide safe, efficacious and quality assured blood to

the people of Pakistan which is free from infections, particularly hepatitis, as much as possible. The

infrastructure developed so far has started to provide service delivery and the people are thus deriving

direct benefit of the blood sector reforms in the shape of better and safer blood transfusion services.

In the current second phase of the project the size and scope of the project is being expanded

exponentially to cover the hitherto uncovered regions.

The establishment of systems to ensure that all donated blood is screened for transfusion-transmitted

infections including hepatitis is a core component of the SBTP. Through this Programme training

activities and research studies have been conducted with the aim to improve the standard of screening

in the blood centers and preventing the spread of infections through transfusions. National screening

strategies and algorithms have been developed after extensive consultations. The adoption of these

technical initiatives has contributed significantly to improvements in blood safety in the country. The

regulatory oversight has been strengthened through the operationalization of the largely dormant

provincial and regional blood transfusion authorities. These authorities now register and license all

blood centers in their respective regions and ensure that all blood establishments adhere to the basic

minimum criteria for licensing including the equipment, HR and resources required for quality assured

screening of the mandatory hepatitis and other markers. One impact of the empowered blood

regulatory authorities has been the significant decline in the widespread use of the cheap substandard

manual screening kits used in the public and private sector blood banks. The gradual consolidation of

services through the nationwide establishment of the Regional Blood Centers and the adoption of this

model in the existing facilities has not only provided economy of scales but also improved the

screening standards. The SBTP is actively promoting automation and use of modern technology in


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the blood centers which has also contributed in strengthening the screening standards. The regulatory

authorities are also working on promoting the culture of quality in the blood services and developing

a national external quality assurance system.

Despite all these milestone achievements by the flagship national blood programme gaps still remain.

But with the gradual expansion in the coverage of services through the new system managed by the

SBTP with continued support by the German partners strengthening of the credible partners and the

regulatory authorities and phasing out of the smaller but numerous unsafe service providers the risk

of hepatitis transmission through blood transfusions is likely to be successfully contained in Pakistan

in the near future.


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PRESENTATION ON HEPATITIS AND BLOOD SAFETY IN PAKISTAN

Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer (Isb, Lhr, Khi)

National Coordinator, Safe Blood Transfusion Programme


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PRESENTATION ON HEPATITIS SCREENING TECHNOLOGIES

By Brig. Javaid Usman, Consultant Safe Blood Transfusion Programme (Isb),

Dr. Shabnam Bashir, Associate Prof. Fatima Jinnah Hospital (Lhr),

Dr. Ashraf Memon, Consultant National AIDS Contol Programme (Khi)


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PRESENTATION ON ROLE OF NAT IN BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICES

Prof. Ayesha Junaid (Isb)

Incharge Blood Bank, Shifa Inrernational Hospital


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PRESENTATION ON EVALUATION OF SCREENING EFFECTIVENESS OF HBsAG

AND ANTI-HCV RAPID TEST KITS IN PAKISTAN

Mr. Usman Waheed (Isb, Lhr, Khi)

Technical Expert, Safe Blood Transfusion Programme


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PRESENTATION ON HEPATITIS PREVENTION IN PUNJAB

Dr. Zahida Sarwar (Khi)

Program Manager, Hepatitis Control Program

PRESENTATION ON ROLE OF SCREENING IN PREVENTION AND DIAGNOSIS OF

HEPATITIS

Dr. Mateen Izhar (Lhr)

Consultant Micobiologist, Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore


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PANEL DISCUSSION

Discussion Points

➢ Sub-standard manual screening kits

➢ Screening Technology options for Hepatitis detection

➢ Rising Prevalence of Hepatitis in Blood Donors

➢ Hepatitis B and C Prevalence in Thalassaemia and Haemophilia

Discussion & Recommendations

• There are various types of screening assays available for screening of blood. However, not

all assays are suitable in all situations and each assay has its limitations which need to be

understood and taken into consideration when selecting assays.

• TPHA is best of all the screening assays available in the country for screening of syphilis

• Thalassaemics are among the most transfused patients and therefore are most exposed to

transfusion transmitted infections, all these patients usually receive multiple blood

tmnsfusions which in most cases are not screened or screened by cheaper and unreliable

techniques.

• Poor quality rapid devices are being used in most parts of the country.

• Prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV in our population and especially among patients with

multiple transfusions like beta thalassaemics should be known to avoid the spread of further

blood borne infection of these viruses.

• Government of Pakistan has taken different initiatives like vaccination, patient safety,

blood screening, education and awareness about disease but still there is high prevalence

of hepatitis in Pakistan.

• Punjab government has recently taken initiative to shift screening in public sector hospitals

from rapid devices to ELISA.

• There are specific hepatitis pockets in central Punjab. These are the areas which need to be

targeted specifically and awareness campaigns are to be run for these people.

• The treatment of hepatitis is very costly and a developing country like Pakistan cannot

afford such high costs. Therefore more focus should be on preventive measures.

• All thalassaemia centres should adhere to minimum screening standards for all

thalassaemia patients

• The life expectancy of transfusion dependent thalassaemia major patients can be improved

by transfusing screened blood and blood products. It will be much cheaper to prevent these

diseases rather than treat them.


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PRESS RELEASE

Blood Program celebrates World Hepatitis Day

The World Hepatitis Day is celebrated all over the world on July 28 to highlight the global spread of

the hepatitis epidemic. The Day is also celebrated in Pakistan widely by the stakeholders since

Pakistan is among the high burden countries for hepatitis. The Safe Blood Transfusion Programme

(SBTP) organized a Seminar in Islamabad to celebrate this Day. The Seminar participants included

a large number of representatives of the blood banks, blood donor organizations, NGOs, university

and college students and other partners.

Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer, National Coordinator, SBTP in his presentation briefed about the global,

regional and national aspects of the hepatitis epidemic. He described in detail the global strategy and

response to halt and prevent the spread of hepatitis. The international effort led by the World Health

Organization is supported by all the member states. Pakistan is also a signatory to these international

commitments made in the UN General Assembly in 2015 which adopted the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development which called on the international community to eliminate hepatitis. These

commitments were articulated in the ‘Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis’ presented in

the World Health Assembly in 2016.

One of the important modes of transmission of hepatitis in Pakistan is the unsafe contaminated blood

transfusions. Prof. Zaheer enumerated the efforts of the SBTP to make transfusions in Pakistan

infection free and strengthen the blood transfusion services. These efforts included the development

of a new nationwide blood transfusion infrastructure (construction of regional Blood Centers) with

the support of the German government through KFW Development Bank grant where blood

transfusion services are being provided according to the international recommended guidelines

adopting good laboratory practices for the screening of infections including Hepatitis. Other SBTP

initiatives include developing technical manuals, guidelines, SoPs and training of the human resource

which strengthen the blood screening systems. SBTP has also revived the blood regulatory authorities

in all the provinces and regions which are now strictly enforcing quality screening systems in the

blood centers. The regulatory authorities have also managed to curb and significantly reduce the

rampant use of substandard manual screening devices, a major source of spread of hepatitis in

Pakistan. As a result of these concerted efforts by SBTP blood safety standards particularly the

standard of blood screening has improved considerably.

The Seminar also included some technical presentations by eminent experts including Prof. Javaid

Usman, Prof. Ayesha Junaid and Mr. Usman Waheed on the topics of screening assays for hepatitis,

Nucleic Acid testing and blood screening guidelines and algorithms. The Seminar also included an

extensive Panel discussion session on Blood Safety and Hepatitis Spread. The discussion topics

included Availability of cheap substandard kits; screening technology options for hepatitis detection;

Rising prevalence of hepatitis among blood donors; and High Hepatitis B and C prevalence in

Thalassaemia patients. The panel discussion provided an excellent opportunity for an interactive

session where the participants engaged in a knowledgeable debate with eminent experts about

hepatitis prevention.


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PRESS COVERAGE


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PHOTOS

Islamabad


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Lahore


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Karachi


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Safe Blood Transfusion Programme

Hostel A, NISTE building, Off Sufi Tabbasum Road,

Sector H-8/1, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Phone: +92 51 925 0307-8 | +92 51 9250 313

Fax: +92 51 8250 309

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sbtp.gov.pk

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