Vaccination is the Key to Controlling Hepatitis B: Dr. Awadhesh Vashishta
Bijnor: A one-day conference titled “Liver Diseases and Treatment” was held in Najibabad on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, jointly organised by the All India Unani Tibbi Congress (Bijnor district) and NEMA (Bijnor district). The conference was presided over by Professor Mohammad Idris, former Principal, A&U Tibbia College, Karol Bagh, New Delhi.
In his address, Prof. Idris stated that Unani medicine has provided effective treatments for liver diseases for centuries, and even today, a large number of people benefit from them. He mentioned that compound formulations such as Majoon Dabeed-ul-Ward, Dawa-ul-Kurkum Kabeer, Arq-e-Kasni, Arq-e-Makoh, and Hab-e-Kabid Naushadri are commonly used for treating liver ailments. However, he emphasised that for better outcomes, single herbs should be prioritised where appropriate.
As the chief guest, Prof. Syed Mohammad Arif Zaidi, former Dean of Unani, Jamia Hamdard, stressed the importance of adopting preventive measures. Meanwhile, Dr. Awadhesh Vashishta, MD of Pandit Chandrakant Multi-Specialty Hospital, highlighted the dangers of receiving injections from unqualified practitioners and advocated for intensified government-led vaccination campaigns to control Hepatitis B.
He added that due to lack of awareness, only around 6% of people manage to get vaccinated against Hepatitis B. If vaccination facilities are made widely available at the government level, a greater number of people could benefit.
On this occasion, Dr. Ilyas Mazhar Hussain, former CCIM member from Himachal Pradesh and President, All India Unani Tibbi Congress (AIUTC), Himachal Pradesh, also spoke, emphasising the need to raise public awareness from both preventive and social perspectives.
Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, General Secretary of the AIUTC, highlighted the organizational aspects, stating that voluntary service carried out within the framework of discipline leads to benefits in both worldly and spiritual life, and helps achieve the organisation’s objectives. He further mentioned that due to widespread alcohol consumption and the use of adulterated ghee, oil, and spices, people are increasingly suffering from liver diseases, especially fatty liver.
Advocate Shah Jabeen Qazi, Legal Advisor, AIUTC, in her remarks, said that patients should not be treated as customers, but with compassion in accordance with medical principles and ethical values.
Dr. Suleman Siddiqui, NEMA President, Bijnor. Dr. Mohammad Danish, General Secretary, AIUTC, Bijnor and Coordinator of the programme, played key roles, along with his team, in making the event a success and extended thanks to all participants.
