Posted: 15-Mar-2006 << BACK
To read more about the trip Click Here to go to Siobhan's blog.
I am a Hepatitis Nurse in Yorkshire, UK and I have noticed a disproportionate number of clients who were born in or have visited Pakistan coming to my clinic with Hepatitis C. In fact up to 25% of my clients fit this profile. This has worrried and upset me, as many of my clients are so young. I decided I would visit Pakistan to find out how Hepatitis C is being transmitted there by meeting health professionals in Pakistan, meet up with people there who have Hepatitis C and do what I can to help the situation there by offering teaching there. The main aim would be to provide information to people travelling to Pakistan so that they can protect themselves from Hepatitis C whilst there. The second aim would be to advertise the trip widely so that people of Pakistani origin will be encouraged to go to their GP to to get a Hepatitis C test.
I applied for funding from the Florence Nightingale Trust (www.florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk) who provide funding for nurses who wish to travel to investigate nursing issues. I was very lucky to be successful, and also received funding from The Sandra Charitable Trust.
In order to make the trip particuarly of interest to local Pakistani people, and to make certain the trip will be successful I decided to take with me a local woman who has successfully been treated for Hepatitis C, and is now cured. Mrs SB is an amazing woman, who works as an outreach worker in Thornton Lodge Neighberhood Learning Centre in Huddersfied, and works as a beautician. She has a family and incredible amounts of energy.
I contacted the Hepatitis C Trust, the only national Hepatitis C charity in Britain, Hepatitis C Trust (www.hepCuk.info) about the trip. They are planning on making leaflets in Urdu about Hepatitis C for the Pakistani community in the UK. They asked if I would take photographs whilst I am in Pakistan for these leaflets. This fitted exactly with the aims of the project so I was extremely happy to accept. They have written a letter for me which explains the aim of the project.
Professor Graham Foster, an important researcher in Hepatitis C in Britain who is based at Queen Mary University in London, was very encouraging to me about the trip. He has done research about Hepatitis C amongst Pakistani people in E London. He gave me a the name of a Dr with whom he is working with in Pakistan. He also provided me with a questionairre which I hope to use with people in Pakistan who have Hepatitis C so that we can begin to work out the methods of transmission. Coincidentally he is in Islamabad at the same time as us and so Mrs SB and I hope to go to dinner with him so we can discuss our findings.
An essential part of the trip is maimum publicity so that as many people of Pakistani origin hear of it, to encourage people to come forward for Hepatitis C testing. So far we have had an article in the Huddersfield Examiner (http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=16492546&method=full&siteid=50060-name_page.html) and in the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust News. The hospital Communication Department is sending out a press release to all major national and Asian newspapers and radio stations, so we can just cross our fingers and find out what happens next!
Itinerary
Day 1- Wednesday March 15th
Manchester Airport to Karachi
Day 3 - Friday March 17th - Karachi
Meet up with Dr. Saeed Hamid Aga Khan Universtity. The Aga Khan University has been at the forefront of Hepatitis C research in Pakistan. The aim of meeting Dr Saeed Hamid is to to find out how Hepatitis C is being transmitted within Pakistan.
Day 5 - Sunday March 19th
Mr IS who was a patient of mine in the UK and is now living in Pakistan. I wish to interview him and some of his family in Pakistan who have Hepatitis C
Day 6 - Monday March 20th - Lahore
Visit Prof. Syed Sibit-ul-Hasnain who is the President of the Hepatology Society in Pakistan. I wish to discuss the epidemiology and transmission of Hepatitis C in Pakistan. I will be very interested in any Health Education material that exists in Pakistan.
Day 7 - Tuesday March 21st - Lahore
Various places eg Barber shop, dentist etc. We have been commissioned by the Hepatitis C trust to take photos for use in leaflets in UK for people of Pakistani origin showing methods of transmission in UK. The Hepatitis C Trust plan use the photos and information to make leaflets for the Black and Ethnic Minority people in the UK.
Day 8 - Wednesday March 22nd - Faisalabad
Dr Abdul Mannan general GP used by local people in Lahore. He is a relative of a patient in Halifax with Hepatitis C. I will speak to him about his experience of Hepatitis C, his opinion on methods of transmission, and give him as much information as I can to help him prevent and treat Hepatitis C.
Day 9 - Thursday March 23rd - Outside Faisalabad
Mrs SS who has Hepatitis C. I will interview this lady who has Hepatitis C, using questions provided by Professor Graham Foster to attempt to discover the route of transmission for her Hepatitis C. I will provide advice as relevant.
Day 10 - Friday March 24th - Faisalabad
Various places eg Barber shop, dentist etc
Day 11 - Saturday March 25th - Islamabad
Professor Graham Foster who is an eminent Hepatitis C Consultant and researcher in the UK. He is also involved in research re Hepatitis C. We hope to meet to discuss our findings
Mirpur
Visit family with Hepatitis C
Day 12 - Sunday March 26th - Mirpur
Visit family with Hepatitis C
Day 13th - Monday March 26th - Islamabad
ICAN Drug Rehabilitation. Visit to drug agency, to discuss problem of Hepatitis C. Also to plan teaching session.
Day 14 - Tuesday March 27th - Mirpur
Various places eg Barber shop, dentist etc
Day 16 - Thursday March 29th
ICAN Drug Rehabilitation to Provide teaching about Hepatitis C testing
So interesting and exciting. A real opportunity to look at Hepatitis C in Pakistan, and make some links between the UK and Pakistan (two countries already linked on so many levels) about Hepatitis C.
