Health dept finds no HIV-AIDS patient in Adiyala Jail

At least 157 test positive for hepatitis C during screening in prison

RAWALPINDI: At least 157 prisoners have been tested positive for hepatitis C while none was found carrying HIV-AIDS during blood screening of inmates in the Adiyala Jail.

The health department recommended the Rawalpindi Central Jail authorities to start treatment of the patients, provided hygienic environment in prison besides clean drinking water and healthy food.

A blood screening drive is going on the jail since July 8 to check over 6,000 prisoners. As of Thursday, 2,540 prisoners had been checked out of which 157 had been found positive for hepatitis C.

Health authority officials said they would start three-month medication course for the hepatitis C patients in jail.

The blood screening campaign will continue for 10 more days.

The authority has also added that 11 members’ doctors and medical staffers have to stay during the next campaign while special tested their food for keeping the prisoners health to avoid any communicable diseases in the cells.

The report of the jail would also be shared with the Punjab prison department soon once its compile, the authority added.

Breastfeeding week

DHA has announced to start awareness campaign regarding breastfeeding from August 1 to 7. The drive will feature walks, seminars and door-to-door visits for promoting breastfeeding.

This was decided in the high level meeting of the provincial health department and DHA on Wednesday, officials said.

The breastfeeding week will highlight the benefits of the practice for mother and child and also bring to fore the risks attached with using bottles and formula milk.

It is a known fact that breastfeeding improves the physical and mental growth of children and protects mothers from breast cancer.

Meanwhile, DHA has decided to train hair dressers and beauticians in simple hygiene matters that could prevent dangerous and life-threatening infections like HIV-AIDS, hepatitis and syphilis.

The awareness campaign will be launched before a crackdown on hair cutting and beauty salons considered to be spreading infections like AIDS and hepatitis B and C.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2019.