Machar Colony is a densely populated informal settlement on the edge of Karachi harbour, where roughly 120,000 people live in polluted, unsanitary conditions. Most lack access to clean water and proper waste disposal. Since 2015, MSF has been running a programme to treat hepatitis C, a major health concern in Pakistan which has the second-highest burden of the disease in the world.
MSF has developed a simplified model of care for hepatitis C, providing diagnostic, treatment, health education and patient support services at a primary healthcare level under one roof. We aim to reach the most high-risk groups in Machar Colony, while focusing on knowledge transfer to staff, community outreach activities and advocating for better and low cost diagnostic and treatment options for hepatitis C patients in Sindh. The teams offer patient support counselling services, and also run health promotion activities to raise awareness about the disease.