Machar Colony in Karachi, Pakistan, provides a unique and complex setting for studying HCV micro-elimination. As one of the largest informal settlements in the country, Machar Colony is home to diverse ethnic groups, many of whom are undocumented, contributing to a mosaic of socioeconomic challenges, including inadequate healthcare access, poverty, and high vulnerability to infectious diseases. The dense population, coupled with poor sanitation and limited healthcare infrastructure, makes the residents particularly susceptible to the spread of HCV. Given these conditions, Machar Colony serves as an ideal site for examining the challenges and opportunities associated with the micro-elimination of Hepatitis C.
The objectives of the fieldwork in Machar Colony were to assess the perceptions on Hepatitis C, explore the sociocultural dynamics that influence the spread of the virus, and identify barriers to healthcare access.
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