World Hepatitis Day 2023 : " We Can’t Wait" Seminar
The seminar organized by the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh on July 28 in CIRDAP International Conference Hall, Dhaka.
Chief Guest of the program was Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, Honorable Chief Justice of Bangladesh.
Special Guests were Mr. AM Amin Uddin, Attorney General of Bangladesh, Justice Biswajit Debnath, Supreme Court of Bangladesh High Court Division and Prof. Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam, Director, Disease Control and Line Director CDC, DGHS and Mr. Reazul Islam, Regional Board Member SEARO, World Hepatitis Alliance.
Dr. Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative to Bangladesh was unable to present as Special Guest on the occasion. He sent a written message on WHD 2023.
Prof. Mohammad Ali, Secretary General, Prof. M Anisur Rahman, Joint Secretary General, Dr. Golam Azam,Member, Dr. Nazmul Hakim Shaheen, Member and Mr. Zunaid Murshed Paiker, Chief Coordinator of National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh and Zerin Tasnim Meem, Dhaka Medical College Student & Hep Contest Champion Award Winner were present.
Master of Ceremony was Dr. Md. Anwarul Alam, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Central International Medical College.
Doctors, Medical Students, Midwives, University & College students and media personals attended.
A video documentary of “24 years journey of National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh” was displayed at the beginning.
Speakers put special emphasis on urgent need for Awareness, Prevention, Treatment & Control of viral hepatitis in Bangladesh. Prevention of mother to child transmission of Hepatitis B virus & birth dose implementation should get top priority. Viral hepatitis awareness & treatment facilities to be expanded among the rural population of Bangladesh and ensure linkage to care. They are optimistic that, Elimination 2030 targets to be reached and SDGs (3.3 goals) will be achieved in Bangladesh.
WHD 2023 appreciation award for working in the viral awareness building were given to `Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS)’, `Bangladesh Medical Students’ Society (BMSS)’ and `Youth Club of Bangladesh (YCB)’.
Dr. Nazmul Hakim Shaheen welcomed distinguished guests and everyone. He highlighted the theme and the importance of the World Hepatitis Day.
Prof. Mohammad Ali at his Keynote speech described the fundamentals of the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh. Awareness, Advocacy, Tasting, Vaccination, Treatment & Research in the field of viral hepatitis and other liver diseases. Decentralization of the programs in rural Bangladesh, Regional Hepatitis Days, Free vaccination of orphan children in different Govt. Children Home of most the districts & divisional headquarters of the country. Free treatment of underprivileged Hepatitis B & C patients under “Zakat Fund”.
Initiation of “Former Attorney General Mahbubey Alam Hepatitis C Treatment Initiative” for free treatment of young underprivileged hepatitis c patients. This initiative is in the recognition of the contribution of advocate late Mahbubey Alam, a great patron of the foundation. Treatment of three underprivileged patients is ongoing under this program.
He further told that, Hepatitis B (Birth dose) implementation in EPI schedule, reduce of cost of viral hepatitis drugs, especially for DAAs (for HCV). Stigma and discrimination of hepatitis B and C patience should be stopped.
National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh welcomes the initiative of CDC, DGHS of Government for initiation of "National Operational Plan for Elimination of Viral Hepatitis in Bangladesh". The Liver Foundation is happy to be with this dynamic initiative. Hope Elimination 2030 targets to be reached & SDGs goals (3.3) will be achieved in Bangladesh.
Prof. M Anisur Rahman highlighted the prevention of Mother to child transmission, the most important cause of Hepatitis B Transmission. He thanked the Government for running successful EPI program to combat it. On behalf of National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh, he congratulated the Hon. Prime Minster of Bangladesh for achieving the Vaccine Hero award by the GAVI.
The Chief Guest, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, The Hon'ble Chief Justice of Bangladesh, He heavyheartedly remembered former Attorney General late Mahbubey Alam with honor and gratitude for his relentless contribution and engagement to the philanthropic activities of the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh for pretty longtime. He believes that the foundation and the people associated with it will remember him and May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) will offer him Jannatul Ferdous.
He acknowledged and express his gratitude for the persistent efforts of the Liver Foundation for control of viral hepatitis in Bangladesh.
He urged everyone to encourage their community to get tested and vaccinated to stop the transmission of viral hepatitis.
Communicable Diseases (Prevention, Control & Elimination) Act 2018 of the Government include viral hepatitis. This law has a great impact for control viral hepatitis in Bangladesh.
He generously praised the humanitarian services of medical community to stand by the sufferer during their critical moment. He also admires the medical community for their dedicated services during 2020-21 in critical situation with life risk.
He urged the Medical Community to work in the ideology of our Liberation war of 1971 and reach the medical services to the common people of the nation.
Special Guest Mr. AM Amin Uddin, Attorney General of Bangladesh praised the decentralization of viral hepatitis preventive activities and approach of connecting the people of rural Bangladesh by Prof. Mohammad Ali and the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh.
He heavy heartedly remembered his predecessor late Mahbubey Alam, who often used to talk about the liver foundations activities and his involvements.
He used to urged the people to know about viral hepatitis, the silent killer & protect themselves.
Special Guest Justice Biswajit Debnath, Supreme Court of Bangladesh High Court Division praised Prof. Mohammad Ali for his long continued humanitarian efforts for the people of every walk of life.
Special Guest, Dr. Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative to Bangladesh in his written message, thanked the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh for organizing the World Hepatitis Day 2023. Congratulated the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National hepatitis Control Program and Development partners for their best progress that has been made so far towards elimination of virus hepatitis in Bangladesh.
Globally, Hepatitis B and C combined causes 3 million new infection and 1.1 million death every year. There is over one new chronic infection every ten seconds. In addition, there is a huge number of undiagnosed and untreated hepatitis cases every year.
An estimated 4.5 million premature deaths could be prevented in low- and middle-income countries by 2030 through vaccination / diagnostic tests / medicines / and education campaigns.
WHO stands ready to provides essential technical assistance to the Government of Bangladesh on this.
He concluded that, it's a call to accelerate the elimination efforts of viral hepatitis now and the urgent need for testing & treatment for the people who need it. All the best for our journey towards viral hepatitis elimination.
Special Guest Prof. Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam, Director, Disease Control and Line Director, Communicable Disease Control (CDC), DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh informed that; the prevalence of hepatitis B & C is decreasing by continues efforts of the Government. It will help globally to achieve the SDG goal 2030 by Bangladesh.
The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) of Bangladesh Government has great success and contribution on it. He praised the Hon. Prime Minster of Bangladesh for her dynamic leadership & vision towards elimination of viral hepatitis in Bangladesh.
Government is already providing free treatment for viral hepatitis patients in limited scale. Hopefully to increase it by next financial year.
He hopes to succeed to achieve elimination goal 2030 by combined effort of everyone.
Mr. Reazul Islam, Regional Board Member SEARO, World Hepatitis Alliance, expressed his happiness to be a part of this years World Hepatitis Day event by National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh. He is a hepatitis B sufferer and recipient of liver transplant in 2011 at BIRDEM General Hospital, Bangladesh.
He told that, he is fortunate to be here as a Regional Borad member of South East Asia Region of World Hepatitis Alliance, Geneva. Working for control of viral hepatitis SEARO and Globally.
On behalf of World Hepatitis Alliance, congratulated the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh for their successful completion of the World Hepatitis Day 2023 events in Bangladesh.
Mr. Zunaid Murshed Paiker presented the events of World Hepatitis Day 2023 by NLFB.
Zerin Tasnim Meem presented the ways of viral hepatitis transmission, awareness and its prevention.
Dr. Golam Azam thanked the distinguish guests, participants and print and electronic media personals for attending the event and make it success.
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