The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Every year about 2,50,000 people are affected with deadly Hepatitis B and C virus in the country medical experts said at a seminar yesterday.

They identified pregnant women as the most vulnerable group of population to the deadly disease.

About 3.5 per cent pregnant women of the country had been infected with Hepatitis B and C virus according to a latest study.

Liver Foundation of Bangladesh (LFB) organised the seminar at the Shaheed Zia auditorium of National Museum with its President Prof Dr SN Samad Chowdhury in the chair.

The seminar was arranged in observation of the first World Hepatitis Day yesterday. The day was observed by 200 institutions in asmany as 57 countries of the world. The seminar was attended, among others, by National Professor Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Malek, who is the founder Secretary General of National Heart Foundation, Vice Chancellor of BRAC University Prof Zamilur Reza Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of Directorate of Social Welfare Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, LFB General Secretary Prof Mohammad Ali, Director of Directorate of Health Prof Mohammad Abul Fayez and President of Bangladesh Diabetic Society Prof AK Azad Khan.

National Professor Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Malek called upon the both public and private institutions concerned to create mass-awareness on the prevention of hepatitis B and C.

Renowned architect and former Adviser Prof Zamilur Reza Chowdhury lauded different efforts including free vaccination campaign of LFB to create awareness among the people to combat Hepatitis B and C.

LFB General Secretary Mohammad Ali said, "Hepatitis B is one hundred times more infectious than the HIV. But, more emphasis is being given on HIV globally."

He pointed out Hepatitis B and C, the silent killer destroys liver and metabolic system of human body.Awareness among common people and united endeavor to prevent the deadly viruses are highly necessary to protect health of the nation he added.

He urged Government to give more emphasis on prevention than cure hepatitis infection following the method successfully applied in the country that became successful to reduce the rate of hepatitis attacks.