Mass awareness to prevent hepatitis

Health experts and academics on Sunday unequivocally called for raising mass awareness to prevent hepatitis viruses particularly B and C as the disease is gradually taking a heavy toll on the society and the nation as well.

Terming the viruses as a silent killer, they unanimously emphasized the need for taking collective efforts to check the transmission of the disease effectively.

They came up with the observations while addressing a scientific seminar titled "Prevention of Hepatitis (Jaundice) and Treatment" at Rajshahi University (RU).

The Department of Pharmacy of the RU organized the seminar at the conference hall of the engineering faculty department discussing and devising ways and means on how to prevent the disease collectively.

RU Vice Chancellor Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar addressed the seminar as chief guest while Pro-vice-chancellors Prof Sultan-Ul-Islam and Prof Humayun Kabir spoke as special guests with Pharmacy department chairman Prof Aziz Abdur Rahman in the chair.

Prof Dr Harun-Or-Rashid from the Department of Gastroenterology at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) presented a keynote paper while Prof Mamunur Rashid and Dr Shahnaz Parveen spoke as panel discussants.

Prof Dr Harun-Or-Rashid said hepatitis B virus is a common problem for the society and its treatment is continuously changing and improving.

The number of liver patients has been increasing in our society for lack of knowledge about it, he said, adding jaundice, bleeding, weight loss and severe itching are the last stage of liver disease caused by the hepatitis viruses.

He told the audience that many people can prevent the disease if he or she maintains something like healthy balanced diet, consumption of more fruits and vegetables, normal weight, regular exercise, avoid alcohol, drinking lots of water to help flush out toxins, positive attitude and avoid high doses of vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Prof Mamunur Rashid said the majority of people infected with hepatitis viruses are unaware, undiagnosed and untreated due to lack of awareness.

He said hepatitis viruses- A, B, C, D and E can cause acute and chronic infection and inflammation of the liver, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. So, there is no alternative to prevent the viruses with collective efforts.