GHAZNI CITY (SW) – An evident rise of Hepatitis B (commonly known as “black jaundice”) among women in Ghazni province has caused concerns among the local population.
Women suffering from the disease say that, after exhibiting symptoms that were previously difficult to diagnose, they have sought medical help to explore treatment options.
Fahima, a resident of Ghazni who suffers from Hepatitis B, says, “I went to the doctor two months ago, I took some medicine and felt a bit better; but for the past few days, I’ve been experiencing pain again. I have no appetite, and it’s always the same—my stomach feels unsettled, and I don’t want to eat anything. I’m weak and low on energy.”
Zakera, another resident of Ghazni, also shares: “I went to someone who gave me onion as medicine, but it didn’t help. I couldn’t go to Kabul for treatment. It hasn’t been diagnosed yet, but I can tell I have it because my eyes are yellow, my feet hurt, and I have no appetite.”
Health officials in Ghazni state that the lack of adequate health awareness, poverty, and Ghazni’s shared border with Pakistan have contributed to the spread of various diseases, including Hepatitis B and C in the province. They stress that efforts to properly diagnose and treat the disease in Ghazni have begun.
Zrak Renzormal, the Director of Public Health in Ghazni, confirms the rise in Hepatitis among women. “It is more common here than in other provinces because Ghazni shares a border with Pakistan. Most of the time, this disease spreads from the border. It is prevalent among the poor population. When people lack awareness, diseases increase. Ghazni has low levels of education and awareness, and with a large population, the disease has become widespread here,” he said.
Patients in Ghazni are often forced to visit Kabul for a precise diagnosis of the diseases like Hepatitis.
Another resident of Ghazni Nasrullah, a patient’s caregiver whose wife suffers from Hepatitis, however, complains about the lack of medical facilities and a proper diagnostic center in the province.
He said, “There are no proper treatment facilities in Ghazni. We took our patient to Kabul, and the medicines from Kabul worked, thank God. Our wish is to have better treatment facilities for Hepatitis B in Ghazni. The disease is widespread here, especially among women. I wish there were better treatment options for patients in Ghazni.”
In recent months, a diagnostic center for Hepatitis B and C has been opened in Ghazni city, which can help meeting some of the needs of the residents, according to health officials in the province.
Hanif Haqmal, the head of this diagnostic center, says: “The diseases that are diagnosed here, and the machinery used for diagnosing them, use advanced technology. Not only in Ghazni, but these devices are used worldwide to diagnose such diseases.”
