In a first, HWSK sets up screening camp for hepatitis B, C and HIV patients

Karachi

In a rare effort, Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK) organized a two-day screening camp for the patients suffering hemophilia, a bleeding disorder, for hepatitis B, C and HIV.

During the screening camp, it was revealed that there is a 40 percent positivity ratio of hepatitis C and around 2 percent of human immunodeficiency syndrome virus among them.

Screening was done on rapid kits, said the statement issued by the HWSK management on Saturday.

Raheel Ahmed, a hemophiliac himself, founder and CEO of told that of 900 hemophilia patients registered with HWSK, 242 were screened for hepatitis B, C and HIV during two days through rapid tests under the supervision of a team of experts from SBTA, Hepatitis, HIV Programs. Out of them, 91 patients are screened positive for hepatitis C, one for hepatitis B and four for HIV, he added.

He said that screening would continue at their centre to fully screen its 900 registered patients. “These results are shared only by those tested in these two days so far. Majority of positive patients are above 15,” he confirmed.

Patients use plasma due to non-availability of anti-haemophilia injections in Pakistan, which transmit hepatitis B, C and HIV to them, Ahmed explained.

In this regard, the Hemophilia Welfare Society considers its patients to be important for better treatment as well as blood screening and requests the Sindh government for further collaboration and ensures provision of anti-haemophilia injections at HWSK treatment center just like they collaborated with HWSK in this screening drive.

Dr Durre Naz said that hemophilia patients were in dire need of this screening and vaccination, which has now been provided by the Sindh Health Department. Dr Saima Mushtaq, another doctor who participated in the screening camp, said that they will continue to cooperate with the society for which Additional Director CDC Sindh Health Department Dr Ershad Hussain Kazmi has also issued special instructions.