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Joint efforts stressed to eliminate hepatitis

By our correspondents
November 23, 2017
LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Kh Imran Nazir has said struggle for elimination of hepatitis is a war to save the future of Pakistan for which all the provinces should struggle collectively as the Punjab alone cannot achieve the WHO’s target of hepatitis free Pakistan by 2030.
He said tireless efforts and integrated strategy should be adopted by the provincial governments. Kh Imran Nazir further said the Punjab government has started practical struggle by introducing Hepatitis Prevention Ordinance 2017 and its credit goes to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and all the officers and all the staff of Primary and Secondary Health Department.
He expressed these views while addressing the launching ceremony of Hepatitis Prevention Ordinance 2017 here on Wednesday, according to a handout issued here. Besides, Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan, Special Secretary Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Dr Sadain, Chairman PKLI Dr Syed Akhter, Prof Ghiasun Nabi Tayyab, representatives of international development partners and a large number of staff of the department attended the ceremony. Kh Imran Nazir said that law has been promulgated, however, cooperation of all the stakeholders and the civil society is required to implement the law for which we have to rid of from personal interests. Kh Imran Nazir said that before the bifurcation of Health Department, main focus was on the curative site but there was a need to take measures to prevent people from illness.
Without prevention of diseases we cannot produce a healthy society. Primary and Secondary Health Department has started comprehensive programme against the diseases. Integrated efforts required for eradication of hepatitis otherwise this menace would destroy the health of our people, the minister said. Earlier, Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan said Pakistan and Punjab is facing four major challenges in Health Sector, one is infant mortality, maternal mortality, malnutrition and rapid spreading of hepatitis. Ali Jan Khan said during current year, target for the treatment of one lakh hepatitis patients have been fixed and the medicines are being provided on the door steps of the patients through currier service. He said system for hepatitis control has been evolved in all the districts. Hepatitis filter clinics are being set up at district headquarter level, moreover government has introduced auto destructive syringes. He said 50 percent AD syringes have been included in the system and within next 2 years 100 percent disposable syringes would be replaced with AD syringes. Ali Jan Khan said that 62 percent hepatitis is being transmitted through reuse of disposable syringes. Programme Director Dr Zahida Sarwar said after enforcement of ordinance, licences for beauty parlors and barber shops would be mandatory. She said that training programme would also be started for the staff of beauty parlors and barber shops. Addressing the ceremony, PKLI Chairman Dr Saeed Akhter said that 1.2 million people in Pakistan need liver transplantation. He said that the ordinance would be helpful for controlling not only hepatitis but other blood born diseases would also be checked. Prof Ghias un Nabi Tayyab said Specialized Healthcare and Primary Healthcare Departments, both are taking preventive as well as curative measures for hepatitis and hepatitis clinics and gastroenterology units are being established in tertiary care hospitals. Kh Imran Nazir said blood screening and vaccination of all the staff of Primary and Secondary Health Department has been completed. Moreover integrated programme of blood screening of police officials has been chalked out under which 75,000 police officials would be screened and vaccinated in the first phase.
kidney: Lahore General Hospital (LGH) has started modern treatment for kidney patients which will help remove stones from kidney without operation. This was disclosed by Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute Prof Dr Ghiasun Nabi Tayyab while inaugurating “Hands on Live Workshop on Supine PCNL Treatment” here at Lahore General Hospital which was attended by the young doctors from all over the country, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.
Prof Ghiasun Nabi Tayyab appreciated the efforts of Head of Urology Department of LGH Prof Dr Muhammad Nazir who made this mission possible and made breakthrough in introducing such treatment which would more efficient and cost effective for kidney patients. PGMI principal urged the doctors to get maximum benefit from the latest development in the world in the field of medical and use that for the welfare of common man.