Hepatitis awareness week from 22nd

LAHORE

Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir has said that, on the directions of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the hepatitis control campaign has been started in Punjab and hepatitis awareness and screening week would be observed from May 22 to 27 throughout the province.

During the week, screening, awareness and vaccination camps would be set up in all DHQ hospitals during which screening and vaccination of hepatitis B would be carried out and registration of hepatitis C patients would also be made.

He stated this while addressing monthly progress meeting of health CEOs of all districts here on Sunday, according to a handout issued here. 

Minister Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Kh Salman Rafiq, P&S Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan, Health DG Dr Faisal Zahoor, PSPU Director Muhammad Khan Ranjah, Additional Secretary Muhammad Ali Amir, IRMNCH Director Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, EPI Director Dr Muhammad Munir and Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme Director Dr Shahida Sarwar were also present.

The meeting reviewed the performance of DHQ and THQ hospitals, cleanliness conditions in the hospitals, biometric attendance of the doctors and other staff, availability of medicines, routine immunisation coverage and performance of vaccinators. 

Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan said that the Phase-II of revamping of hospitals had been started and all hospitals had been included in the revamping plan. He directed the officers to make the Hepatitis Week a success story for which they had to work hard with dedication. He also directed that aggressive awareness and publicity campaign should be launched regarding hepatitis week so that people could be attracted for screening. He said that sufficient quantity of repaid test kits also be provided in the camps for the purpose.

Minister Kh Imran Nazir said that if any poor and deserving patient needed such medicine which was not included in the essential drug list, the hospital should provide the medicine to the patient through local purchase. The meeting also reviewed the situation of chickenpox and sandfly disease Leishmania, their control and treatment. It was informed that chickenpox had been effectively controlled and case reporting had reduced significantly.

CDC  Director Dr Bashir said that sufficient quantity of chickenpox vaccine had already been supplied to all the affected districts. He informed that 13 treatment centres for Leishmania had been established at nine divisional headquarters and in Chakwal, Mianwali, Khushab and Muzaffargarh. The Punjab minister for primary and secondary healthcare directed the CEOs to submit their flood contingency plan for the coming monsoon season. He stressed the need to reactivate the Punjab Blood Line for promoting volunteer blood donation. Kh Salman Rafiq expressed his satisfaction over the collective efforts and effective control on chickenpox in different districts. He asked the CEOs to start inspection of blood banks in their districts, and ensure implementation of the rules and regulations of Blood Transfusion Authority. He directed BTA Secretary Dr Muhammad Athar to arrange training workshop for the focal persons from all the districts in Lahore.