This video tells a moving story about the impact of a community-based approach to eliminating hepatitis C in a rural part of Pakistan. Communication and compassion can be critical to saving lives.

Pakistan has one of the highest burdens of HCV (hepatitis C virus) infection in the world, with an overall population prevalence of 7%. Rural communities of district Malir in Karachi have been recognized as “hot spots” where prevalence of HCV infection is much higher than the national average.

A community-based micro elimination project in selected Union Councils of this district was implemented by Aga Khan University Hospital and funded by the CHIME grant via Gilead Sciences Inc. More than 40,000 individuals were screened with a seroprevalence of up to 12%. People who tested positive were linked for further care through door-to-door visits for blood sample collection and clinical assessment. 90% of those initiated on treatment have cleared the virus, and efforts to eliminate hepatitis C from adjoining communities continues.