Wall of Stories snapshots
“Hepatitis C test changed my life”
Together, our stories
can change the way
the world sees viral
hepatitis. The stories
of those living with
or impacted by
viral hepatitis can
help educate and
raise awareness,
provide support
and inspiration,
tackle stigma and
discrimination, and
highlight the true
impact of this global
disease. Jawaid
Each month we share the story
of someone whose life has been
affected by viral hepatitis. This
month, we hear from Jawaid
from Pakistan who found he was
living with hepatitis C when free
screening was provided at his
work. I was shocked when the results
came back positive. I was told
that I now needed to take a
full diagnostic test to confirm
if the virus was in my blood.
But resources are limited at
the hospital where I work
and with my meagre salary, I
couldn’t afford the diagnosis
and treatment packages they
provide. So they directed me to
the public sector tertiary care
hospital. At the public hospital
I had the PCR qualitative test
and again it came back positive.
I started treatment at the same
hospital and took the medicine
every day for three months.
16 hep Voice August 2018
“My name is Jawaid and I’m a
security guard at a university
hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. One
hot and humid day, I noticed
they were screening people for
hepatitis C with finger prick rapid
tests. One of the members of the
hepatitis C project research team
approached me and suggested
I get tested. At first, I hesitated.
I didn’t want the test. But when
the team member pointed out
that my eyes were relatively
yellowish, I started thinking a bit
more. It’s true that I had been
feeling generally quite weak
over the past few weeks. So
gradually a knowing feeling in my
gut developed. I should at least
take the test, regardless of the
outcome.
I was lucky that I didn’t suffer
any side effects and was able to
complete the treatment without
any problems. Finally, when I
stopped taking the drugs, I had
another PCR qualitative test. I was
so happy when they told me the
result was negative.
I feel very proud that I am
hepatitis C free now and am
happy that my life has gone
back to normal. I have been
able to go back to work and am
feeling much more energetic and
motivated. It’s changed my life.”
We welcome stories from every corner of the globe and from
all those impacted by viral hepatitis; from patients to family
members, medical professionals and policy makers - viral
hepatitis has a unique experience of each of our lives. Share
your story to our Wall of Stories here and help to change the
way the world sees viral hepatitis.
Read Jawaid’s full video story
here.
August 2018 17
hep Voice