One-week hepatitis drive kicks off

LAHORE: A one-week hepatitis immunisation campaign was launched by the health department on Monday in 36 districts of the province to eradicate the disease.

“The campaign will continue throughout the week and will end on May 27,” said the health department’s spokesperson. “It is a looming threat and we will deal with it at all costs.”

According to Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme, around 80,000 people are suffering from hepatitis in the province.



Director Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme, Dr Zahida Sarwar said that the government was making efforts to control the disease by launching awareness programmes. Minister of Primary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir while inaugurating the campaign said that the health department has set up camps in all district and taluka hospitals of the province where people would be provided free facility of blood screening, treatment and medicines.

He said that during this awareness week, proper disposal of hospital’s waste would be ensured. Barbers and dentists would also be sensitised about the issue, he added. “The vaccination and treatment of hepatitis are both very costly. Therefore, the government decided to observe hepatitis week to provide free medical facilities to the public.”

He said that standard operating procedures had also been prepared for barbers, dentists, blood banks, hospital waste management and against reuse of disposable syringes to curb reuse of infected medical equipment. “We are committed to making Punjab a hepatitis-free province,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2017.