Pakistan, WHO Set 1.6 Million Target for Hepatitis C Programme in ICT
Pakistan and the World Health Organisation have jointly set a target of 1.6 million individuals to be reached under the Hepatitis C Programme in the Islamabad Capital Territory. The target reflects an intensified push to screen, diagnose, and treat one of Pakistan's most significant public health burdens.
Hepatitis C remains a major health challenge in Pakistan, with the country carrying one of the highest prevalence rates globally. The ICT-focused programme is designed to serve as a model for rollout across other regions, combining community screening, subsidised treatment, and awareness campaigns.
WHO's partnership lends technical credibility and resource support to the initiative. Officials have indicated that the programme will focus on hard-to-reach populations, leveraging both public health infrastructure and community health workers to achieve the ambitious enrolment target.
The Hepatitis C Programme forms part of Pakistan's broader public health commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals framework and aligns with WHO's global hepatitis elimination strategy, which aims to substantially reduce new infections and related mortality by 2030.
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