Safe blood transfusion can prevent killer 'Hepatitis C'
Sagar Shabnam | Saturday, 28 June 2008
Dhaka, Jul 21(News Network) - Shahabuddin Tomal is a lively young man. He has got a decent job even before he finished the master's examinations. When his friends were desperately looking for job, he was already a high official at a private company.
Hard labour and talent have been the reasons behind his success in a short period of time. He has never looked back since then. His office relies on him for important work.
One day Tomal, in his mid-30s, was going to Khulna on an assignment and met an accident. He lost huge blood. To save his life, he was given two bags of blood. Within five years his normal and healthy life began deteriorating. He often falls sick.
He took some Paracetamol tablets after he had some fever. He thought he was suffering from jaundice because of stomach pain, diarrhoea and yellow eyes. So, he underwent Ayurvedic treatment. He did not want to fall ill at that time because he was supposed to get married after a few days. But the time was against him.
But his physical condition was deteriorating fast and he was admitted to a hospital. After running various tests, doctors at the hospital informed that he was suffering from Hepatitis C. As his liver was damaged completely, there was no hope for his life. Owing to the lack of health consciousness, a skilled and talented young man like Tomal died a premature death.
Tomal is not the only one. So many people in the country are affected by Hepatitis C virus due to unsafe blood transfusion. According to a report of World Health Organization (WHO), in 2004 approximately 4 million Bangladeshis were affected by this virus. Three out of 100 people of the country are carrying the virus of the deadly disease.
About 170 million people are carrying the virus of Hepatitis C. Due to lack of consciousness, scores of people are being affected everyday. Regarding this disease liver specialist and hepotology researcher at BIRDEM Dr M Goalm Azam says, "Hepatitis C is a virus-related disease, which mainly spreads through blood. The symptoms of the disease that is more dangerous than Hepatitis B are noticed quite late. This is why the affected person cannot realise that he was affected by the deadly disease."
He further says, "This virus destroys the liver cells and causes inflammation. As a result, majority of the patients feel the presence of the disease after suffering from liver cirrhosis. As the virus is detected at the last stage, it becomes difficult to save the affected people. If it is identified at the primary stage 70 per cent patients can be cured."
Physicians, who are experts in symptoms of Hepatitis C, say, as the symptoms of the disease appear late one-third of the affected people cannot understand anything. Generally, people suffer from fever along with headache. Besides, lack of hunger, vomiting tendency, diarrhoea and jaundice are noticed among the affected people. As most of the cases are detected at the last stage, many patients cannot survive.
They further say Hepatitis C can be compared with killer disease HIV/AIDS. Apart from the blood transfusion, this virus can be infected from one to another through shaving razors, syringes even through the dental equipment that are used many times.
According to 'Safe Blood transfusion Act-2002', it is mandatory to check if there is any virus of HIV, syphilis, Malaria, Hepatitis B and C in blood at blood banks. But this law is not followed all the time.
Concerned physicians and researchers are of the opinion that unsafe blood transfusion is the main reason behind the increase of the disease. There are complaints that brokers encourage the relatives of the patient to take blood from private blood banks citing blood crisis at the government blood banks.
Even then more than 60 per cent patients have been affected by Hepatitis after taking blood that is not properly checked. Most of the commercial donors are drug addicts and possess a weak health.
Professor Dr Mobin Khan, a liver specialist at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College, says, "There are no statistics available about the percentage of the population affected by Hepatitis C. But hospital-based statistics indicate that one per cent of the healthy persons is affected by the virus."
He also says, "Statistics show that of the Hepatitis C-affected patients, 30 per cent suffer from liver cirrhosis, 50 per cent from liver inflammation and 45 to 55 per cent from liver cancer.
Besides, there are many liver diseases, which have the presence of both Hepatitis B and C. About the treatment of the disease, he informs that till now no effective vaccine has been invented. But the newly invented medicine 'Pegasis' has given a glimpse of hope to the affected people. Ordinary people think this disease cannot be treated in the country. The treatment procedure both at home and abroad is the same. There are world-class doctors and medicines, but only problem is, the treatment is very expensive. It is only the awareness that can largely help prevent the disease.
Dr M Goalm Azam says blood is not screened when a patient is given it on emergency basis. For instance, 'Dengue' patients are given blood hastily. It also happens to patients suffering from 'Thalsamia' and 'Homiclia' because they need blood quickly. Most of the people do not make sure before taking blood whether it is free from Hepatitis C.
He further says, "One has to spend from Tk 5 lakh to 10 lakh for the treatment, which is out of the reach of the commoners. As a result, they are deprived of the treatment. So, the government should withdraw all taxes on the medicines and treatment of the disease to enable people to bear the expense.
According to the information received from various sources, 2.5 crore people of the country are capable to donate blood. If 2 per cent of them donate blood voluntarily the demand for safe blood can be met. Only safe blood can prevent the blood-borne diseases.
Emphasising the need for public awareness regarding the outbreak of
Hepatitis C, Dr Mobin Khan says, "Everyone has to take blood after making sure that it is free from Hepatitis C. Personal risk habits must be avoided.
One should not use the shaving razor that is used by another person. Precautionary measures need to be taken while piercing nose and ears. The equipment used at the dental clinics must be refined and free from germs."
To protect people from the disease, launching a campaign on raising mass awareness at the grassroots level is essential. Mass media also need to come up to help raise the awareness level about the deadly disease.
Hard labour and talent have been the reasons behind his success in a short period of time. He has never looked back since then. His office relies on him for important work.
One day Tomal, in his mid-30s, was going to Khulna on an assignment and met an accident. He lost huge blood. To save his life, he was given two bags of blood. Within five years his normal and healthy life began deteriorating. He often falls sick.
He took some Paracetamol tablets after he had some fever. He thought he was suffering from jaundice because of stomach pain, diarrhoea and yellow eyes. So, he underwent Ayurvedic treatment. He did not want to fall ill at that time because he was supposed to get married after a few days. But the time was against him.
But his physical condition was deteriorating fast and he was admitted to a hospital. After running various tests, doctors at the hospital informed that he was suffering from Hepatitis C. As his liver was damaged completely, there was no hope for his life. Owing to the lack of health consciousness, a skilled and talented young man like Tomal died a premature death.
Tomal is not the only one. So many people in the country are affected by Hepatitis C virus due to unsafe blood transfusion. According to a report of World Health Organization (WHO), in 2004 approximately 4 million Bangladeshis were affected by this virus. Three out of 100 people of the country are carrying the virus of the deadly disease.
About 170 million people are carrying the virus of Hepatitis C. Due to lack of consciousness, scores of people are being affected everyday. Regarding this disease liver specialist and hepotology researcher at BIRDEM Dr M Goalm Azam says, "Hepatitis C is a virus-related disease, which mainly spreads through blood. The symptoms of the disease that is more dangerous than Hepatitis B are noticed quite late. This is why the affected person cannot realise that he was affected by the deadly disease."
He further says, "This virus destroys the liver cells and causes inflammation. As a result, majority of the patients feel the presence of the disease after suffering from liver cirrhosis. As the virus is detected at the last stage, it becomes difficult to save the affected people. If it is identified at the primary stage 70 per cent patients can be cured."
Physicians, who are experts in symptoms of Hepatitis C, say, as the symptoms of the disease appear late one-third of the affected people cannot understand anything. Generally, people suffer from fever along with headache. Besides, lack of hunger, vomiting tendency, diarrhoea and jaundice are noticed among the affected people. As most of the cases are detected at the last stage, many patients cannot survive.
They further say Hepatitis C can be compared with killer disease HIV/AIDS. Apart from the blood transfusion, this virus can be infected from one to another through shaving razors, syringes even through the dental equipment that are used many times.
According to 'Safe Blood transfusion Act-2002', it is mandatory to check if there is any virus of HIV, syphilis, Malaria, Hepatitis B and C in blood at blood banks. But this law is not followed all the time.
Concerned physicians and researchers are of the opinion that unsafe blood transfusion is the main reason behind the increase of the disease. There are complaints that brokers encourage the relatives of the patient to take blood from private blood banks citing blood crisis at the government blood banks.
Even then more than 60 per cent patients have been affected by Hepatitis after taking blood that is not properly checked. Most of the commercial donors are drug addicts and possess a weak health.
Professor Dr Mobin Khan, a liver specialist at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College, says, "There are no statistics available about the percentage of the population affected by Hepatitis C. But hospital-based statistics indicate that one per cent of the healthy persons is affected by the virus."
He also says, "Statistics show that of the Hepatitis C-affected patients, 30 per cent suffer from liver cirrhosis, 50 per cent from liver inflammation and 45 to 55 per cent from liver cancer.
Besides, there are many liver diseases, which have the presence of both Hepatitis B and C. About the treatment of the disease, he informs that till now no effective vaccine has been invented. But the newly invented medicine 'Pegasis' has given a glimpse of hope to the affected people. Ordinary people think this disease cannot be treated in the country. The treatment procedure both at home and abroad is the same. There are world-class doctors and medicines, but only problem is, the treatment is very expensive. It is only the awareness that can largely help prevent the disease.
Dr M Goalm Azam says blood is not screened when a patient is given it on emergency basis. For instance, 'Dengue' patients are given blood hastily. It also happens to patients suffering from 'Thalsamia' and 'Homiclia' because they need blood quickly. Most of the people do not make sure before taking blood whether it is free from Hepatitis C.
He further says, "One has to spend from Tk 5 lakh to 10 lakh for the treatment, which is out of the reach of the commoners. As a result, they are deprived of the treatment. So, the government should withdraw all taxes on the medicines and treatment of the disease to enable people to bear the expense.
According to the information received from various sources, 2.5 crore people of the country are capable to donate blood. If 2 per cent of them donate blood voluntarily the demand for safe blood can be met. Only safe blood can prevent the blood-borne diseases.
Emphasising the need for public awareness regarding the outbreak of
Hepatitis C, Dr Mobin Khan says, "Everyone has to take blood after making sure that it is free from Hepatitis C. Personal risk habits must be avoided.
One should not use the shaving razor that is used by another person. Precautionary measures need to be taken while piercing nose and ears. The equipment used at the dental clinics must be refined and free from germs."
To protect people from the disease, launching a campaign on raising mass awareness at the grassroots level is essential. Mass media also need to come up to help raise the awareness level about the deadly disease.