Médecins Sans Frontières - Hepatitis C Explainer Pakistan

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF307146

Date taken / Date Recorded 05/03/2020 12:00 AM

Country Pakistan

Commissioning section MSF-BELGIUM

Photographer / videographer / producer Garvit Nangia

Copyright Garvit Nangia/MSF

Usage Rights (MSF) External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m45s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 202.06 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist 00:00 – 00:02 – My name is Dr Masnoon Ahmed.

00:03 – 00:10 – I work as a doctor in the MSF/Doctors Without Borders hepatitis C clinic in Machar Colony, Karachi.

00:11 - 00:13 – The clinic was established in 2015

00:14 – 00:20 – and we treat patients with hepatitis C, also known as Kala Piliya or Kala Yarqan in Urdu.

00:21 – 00:24 – What is hepatitis C?

00:25 – 00:27 – Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact

00:28 – 0040 – and the most common causes of infection include use of unsterilized needles or dental instruments, infected shaving blades or other tools, or transfusions with infected blood.

00:41 – 00:44 - Pakistan has a high prevalence rate of 5 to 10 percent.

00:44 – 00:55 - This means that if Pakistan has a population of 220 million, the maximum number of people infected with this disease in the country is 25 million, which is close in size to the population of Karachi.

00:55 - 01:00 - Hepatitis C is a viral infection that eventually causes inflammation of the liver.

01:00 – 01:02 - We call it a “silent killer”

01:03 - 01:12 - because the symptoms it causes are very general, and could be mistaken for common ailments.

01:13 – 01:20 - Sometimes there are no recognizable symptoms for years, until the disease reaches an acute stage.

01:21 – 01:27 - If hepatitis C is not treated, it can progress to advanced liver disorders,

01:27 – 01:30 – for example liver shrinkage or liver cancer.

01:31 – 01:34 - But the good news is that the newest oral and more effective treatments are available.

01:35 - 01:37 - Moreover, the screening tools are readily available as well.

01:38 - 01:42 - All you need to do is take oral medicine for at least 3 or more months to get rid of the disease.

01:42 – 01:48 - There’s no vaccine for hepatitis C

01:49 – 01:52 - so you need to protect yourself.

01:52 – 01:56 – These are some precautions that you should take:

01:57 - 02:01 - ensure that you use a new syringe or shaving blade every time;

02:02 – 02:10 - make sure the blood you are receiving has been tested and is clear of hepatitis C virus;

02:11 – 02:14 – and most importantly inform yourself about this disease.

02:15 – 02:20 - Get yourself tested on a regular basis for an early diagnosis and effective treatment.

02:21 – 02:26 - Since 2015, MSF has been running a programme for hepatitis C patients in Karachi’s Machar Colony,

02:27: 20:29 - focusing on high-risk populations.

02:30 – 02:32 - Hepatitis C is a potentially fatal disease

02:33 – 02:37 - but today we have the tools to diagnose and treat it.

02:38 – 02:40 - Know more about this disease

02:41 – 02:41 - and get yourself tested. Today.

Hepatitis C Explainer Pakistan - EN

Hepatitis C Explainer Pakistan - EN