Karachi, November 07, 2018 (PPI-OT):Hepatitis Control Program in Sindh is going on since 2009 and so far as many 8.80 million patients of Hepatitis B have been vaccinated while overall 842086 hepatitis patients in general population, 232355 in high risk population, 527423 school going children and 52702 jail inmates have been treated. This was briefed in the Provincial Steering Committee on Hepatitis Control Program meeting, held here in Sindh health minister office on Wednesday, chaired by Sindh minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho.
Special Secretary Health Nasim ul Shani Sahito, Program Manager Hepatitis Control Sindh Dr. Zulfiqar Dharejo, Add Secretary Law Rubina Asif, Dr. M. Saeed Qureshi and others also attended the meeting. The Steering Committee was also briefed that the current number of patients of Hepatitis C were 68557, Hepatitis B were 6797 and Hepatitis D were 1628. Dr. Dharejo told that numbers of sentinel sites were 62 and treatment centers were 17 across the province.
On this occasion the provincial minister for health Dr. Azra Pechuho suggested that drugs stock for registered patients must be kept and expedite the procurement process to facilitate hepatitis patients. She asked to announce vacant position through newspapers district wise and resources should be mobilized to make Sindh free from hepatitis. She was of the opinion that it was the prime responsibility of the government to provide better treatment facilities to the masses.
The committee was informed that in current Annual Development Program Rs.300 millions had been allocated for the program, out of which Rs.125 millions were medicines only and it was difficult to run the affairs with limited funds. 19000 patients of Hepatitis B and C are waiting for the treatment and for the purpose additional funds are required. Provincial minister Dr. Azra Pechuho stressed upon the need of large scale advocacy and communication campaign to create awareness among masses to adopt preventive measures to safe themselves from this disease.
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