Viral threat: Hepatitis prevention should be part of curriculum, says Salman Rafique
He was chairing a meeting to review hepatitis control at directorate general of health services.
PHOTO: WASEEM NIAZ
LAHORE:
A mass awareness campaign should be launched across the Punjab to stop the spread of hepatitis. A topic on hepatitis control should be included in school syllabus, Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Thursday.
He was chairing a meeting to review hepatitis control at directorate general of health services.
Convener of the hepatitis working group Prof Ghayasun Nabi Tayyab and officials of Health, Auqaf, Social Welfare, Environment and School Education departments, the Blood Transfusion Authority, the Institute of Blood Transfusion Services and the Punjab Information Technology Board attended the meeting.
Tayyab briefed the meeting about the hepatitis situation in the country, especially in the Punjab.
“There are around seven million carriers of hepatitis B and C disease in the Punjab. In order to control the deadly disease, there is a need to focus on surveillance, prevention and treatment. Unsafe treatment by quacks, use of unsterilised surgical instruments by dentists and doctors, infected instruments of barbers, reuse of disposable syringes, unsafe blood transfusion and recycling of hospitals’ waste are among major causes of hepatitis,” Tayyab said.
All the departments informed the meeting about the steps taken so far for hepatitis control.
Rafique said that there was a need to take strict administrative decisions as well as launch a mass awareness campaign about hepatitis. “People need to be informed that they should not get treatment from quacks and dentists who do not use sterilised surgical instruments. People should always insist on the use of new razors while getting a shave at the barber’s. The Health Department has activated the Blood Transfusion Authority after 15 years to ensure safe blood transfusions. Action has also been started against sub-standard blood banks,” he said.
Rafique said that fresh donors and screened blood should be preferred for transfusions. “There are hundreds of hospitals and clinics in every city. Safe disposal of hospitals waste is essential to curb its recycling,” he said.
Rafique said that the Environment, Auqaf and Education Departments must play a significant role in hepatitis control. “Ulema and scholars can create awareness among the people about the diseases. A chapter should also be included in the schools’ syllabus,” he said.
The meeting was informed that a one-day conference would be organised at 90-The Mall on the topic.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2015.
A mass awareness campaign should be launched across the Punjab to stop the spread of hepatitis. A topic on hepatitis control should be included in school syllabus, Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Thursday.
He was chairing a meeting to review hepatitis control at directorate general of health services.
Convener of the hepatitis working group Prof Ghayasun Nabi Tayyab and officials of Health, Auqaf, Social Welfare, Environment and School Education departments, the Blood Transfusion Authority, the Institute of Blood Transfusion Services and the Punjab Information Technology Board attended the meeting.
Tayyab briefed the meeting about the hepatitis situation in the country, especially in the Punjab.
“There are around seven million carriers of hepatitis B and C disease in the Punjab. In order to control the deadly disease, there is a need to focus on surveillance, prevention and treatment. Unsafe treatment by quacks, use of unsterilised surgical instruments by dentists and doctors, infected instruments of barbers, reuse of disposable syringes, unsafe blood transfusion and recycling of hospitals’ waste are among major causes of hepatitis,” Tayyab said.
All the departments informed the meeting about the steps taken so far for hepatitis control.
Rafique said that there was a need to take strict administrative decisions as well as launch a mass awareness campaign about hepatitis. “People need to be informed that they should not get treatment from quacks and dentists who do not use sterilised surgical instruments. People should always insist on the use of new razors while getting a shave at the barber’s. The Health Department has activated the Blood Transfusion Authority after 15 years to ensure safe blood transfusions. Action has also been started against sub-standard blood banks,” he said.
Rafique said that fresh donors and screened blood should be preferred for transfusions. “There are hundreds of hospitals and clinics in every city. Safe disposal of hospitals waste is essential to curb its recycling,” he said.
Rafique said that the Environment, Auqaf and Education Departments must play a significant role in hepatitis control. “Ulema and scholars can create awareness among the people about the diseases. A chapter should also be included in the schools’ syllabus,” he said.
The meeting was informed that a one-day conference would be organised at 90-The Mall on the topic.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2015.