City Desk :
Bangladesh will observe World Hepatitis Day-2024 today aiming to raise awareness against the deadly virus, with the theme ‘It’s time for action’. The day is observed every year on July 28 to increase awareness of different forms of hepatitis and methods of its prevention and treatment, reports BSS.
This day is observed on July 28, the birthday of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, to honour him as he discovered the Hepatitis B virus (HBV).
In Bangladesh, the government and different non-government organizations usually chalk out various programmes, including seminars, rallies and health campaigns, to observe the day.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a message on the eve of the day.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said a total of 1.3 million people die every year due to hepatitis in the world, which is constantly increasing.
“Hepatitis is one of the causes of liver cancer. Therefore, to achieve the goal of eradication of hepatitis, it is necessary to create mass awareness,” the premier added.
The greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman undertook various activities including the establishment of hospitals for the development of the country’s medical system immediately after the country’s independence, she said.
Following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation, the Awami League (AL)-led government is implementing comprehensive development programs to bring health care to the doorsteps of the people and build a healthy, strong and functional population by providing Health and Nutrition Programme (HNP) services, she said. “We have taken various steps including establishment of new hospitals and nursing institutes to ensure up-to-date health care by formulating a pro-people ‘public health policy’,” the premier said.
The present government has also increased the number of doctors, nurses and supporting staff along with increasing the number of beds in hospitals across the country, she added.
Around 18,500 community clinics and union health centers have been set up across the country to deliver health care at the doorsteps of the people at the village level, Sheikh Hasina continued.
