World Hepatitis Day 2025: FJMU Leads Awareness Drive in Pakistan
Posted 2 weeks ago
In a significant collaboration with the SOS Foundation, Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Pakistan marked World Hepatitis Day 2025 with a high-profile seminar. The event aimed to raise awareness about hepatitis prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, underlining the importance of community involvement in Pakistan.
The event, led by Prof. Dr. Bilquis Shabbir, Chairperson of the Department of Medicine, brought together leading healthcare professionals, researchers, and students. Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal, Vice Chancellor of FJMU, attended as the Chief Guest. At the same time, Dr. Shaista Sohail, former Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission, joined as the Guest of Honor. Prof. Azra Mehmood from the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, delivered the keynote lecture.
Theme: "Hepatitis - Let's Break It Down"
This year's global theme, 'Hepatitis-Let's Break It Down', highlighted the pressing need for community awareness. It emphasized that hepatitis continues to pose a significant threat, affecting millions in Pakistan and across the globe.
In his address, Dr. Gondal praised FJMU's ranking among the top three medical universities in Pakistan and stressed the university's leadership in postgraduate medical education. "The best people are those who serve humanity," he said, urging the public to focus on awareness and early detection of hepatitis.
Guest of Honor Dr. Sohail reinforced that "prevention is better than cure." She highlighted SOS Foundation's community health initiatives and advised the public to avoid contaminated food and water, both significant sources of hepatitis transmission. She also linked public health to environmental well-being, advocating for tree plantation drives as part of broader prevention strategies.
Prof. Mehmood's comprehensive lecture provided a detailed understanding of hepatitis as a liver inflammation primarily caused by viral infections. She elucidated on symptoms, modes of transmission, and treatment options, cautioning that delayed detection can lead to life-threatening complications.
Every year, World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on July 28. In 2025, the theme of the Day was "Let's Break It Down," a call to simplify and scale up hepatitis services and eliminate barriers to care and awareness.
