KARACHI: Marking World Hepatitis Day 2025, the Pakistan Society for the Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD), in collaboration with Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK), Liver Foundation, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, organized a powerful awareness and prevention event titled “Protecting Liver Health in Hemophilia: Awareness, Screening & Vaccination for a Healthier Future.”
Held at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, the event brought together leading medical experts, public health advocates, and community stakeholders with a clear mission: to protect individuals with bleeding disorders—especially hemophilia patients—from the life-threatening consequences of Hepatitis B and C.
Elevated Risk, Urgent Need
Hemophilia patients, due to lifelong dependence on blood transfusions and plasma-derived clotting factors, are at a disproportionately higher risk of contracting hepatitis viruses. Chronic hepatitis can lead to severe liver complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer—yet routine screening and vaccinations among this vulnerable group remain alarmingly low.
The event directly addressed this critical healthcare gap by providing free hepatitis screening and vaccinations to 100 individuals, a milestone achievement in preventive liver care for the bleeding disorders community.
Expert Voices and Educational Sessions
Prominent medical professionals participated in the event, delivering valuable insights on early detection, liver care, and infection control:
- Prof. Wasim Jafri – Senior Hepatologist
- Prof. Saeed Hamid – Liver Disease Specialist
- Prof. Zahid Azam – Consultant Gastroenterologist
- Dr. Muhammad Kamran – Infectious Disease Expert
- Prof. Qaiser Jamal – Head, Dept. of Medicine, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital
Educational sessions emphasized the importance of regular screening, adherence to infection control protocols, and the urgent need for nationwide hepatitis vaccination drives targeting at-risk groups like hemophilia patients.
Informational materials were also distributed to attendees to reinforce safe transfusion practices.
Community Collaboration
Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Raheel Ahmed Khan, CEO of HWSK, and Mr. Aziz, Director of Liver Foundation, stressed the need for sustained collaboration between civil society organizations and the healthcare system. Dr. Faisal Samdani, Director of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, lauded the effort as a model for integrated community care.
The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks to the teams of doctors, nurses, lab technicians, volunteers, and supporters who made the initiative possible.
A United Call to Action
Under the rallying call “Connecting Communities. Stopping Hepatitis. Saving Lives,” the initiative exemplified the spirit of this year’s World Hepatitis Day. As Pakistan continues to battle viral hepatitis, the “SaveLiver Pakistan” campaign is setting benchmarks in community-based prevention and care.
Preventive care saves lives—and it takes united action to build a hepatitis-free future.
