Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar has pledged the commission’s support for screening students, faculty, and staff at federal universities for Hepatitis C.
He gave the assurance during a meeting at the HEC Secretariat with a delegation led by Zubair Nasir, CEO of Qamar Jahan Diagnostic Laboratory.
The delegation briefed him on the Prime Minister’s National Hepatitis C Elimination Programme, under which the laboratory has been designated by the Government of Pakistan as the focal point for implementation.
The programme aims to reduce Hepatitis C through early diagnosis, public awareness and timely treatment, particularly among young people and the working-age population.
Under the initiative, National Skills University Islamabad will work with the laboratory to arrange screening camps at federal universities. Free treatment will be provided to people diagnosed with the disease.
Dr. Akhtar said HEC would inform federal universities about the programme and encourage them to participate. The commission will also issue an advisory asking universities to cooperate with NSU and the laboratory to help ensure the screening activities run smoothly and reach as many people as possible.
He said universities can play an important role in raising awareness about preventable diseases. Senior HEC officials and laboratory representatives also attended the meeting.
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