Free Hepatitis blood screening, vaccination camp held

Rafiullah Mandokhail

ZHOB: In order to prevent fatal but treatable disease hepatitis, District Headquarters civil hospital and Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative with the support of Provincial Hepatitis Cell held a two-day long free blood screening and vaccination camp at Basic Health Unit New Sheikhan here.  Deputy Commissioner Zhob flanked by DHO Dr. Muzafar Shah visited the camp and inspected the facilities at the camp.  CO CMH, DDHO Dr. Zahid Mehmood, Communication Officer UNICEF Samad Hariphal, DSM PPHI, President Para Tahir Hotak, Sattar Gul Mandokhail, Juma Hariphal and Sheikh Ashraf Mandokhail were also present on the occasion.

Medical Superintendent Dr. Akther Mandokhail briefed the deputy commissioner on the occasion and said that hepatitis prevalence was a serious health hazard and lack of awareness was a major reason behind its spread, he said.

Expressing satisfaction over the camp and services delivery at DHQ hospital, DC said the government leaves no stone unturned in health services delivery, the camp he said was the part of the chief minister’s health package.

“The provincial government is committed to provide best healthcare facilities to masses in remote areas of the province. People should benefit from the free test and vaccination facility”, he added. MS Dr. Akhter Mandokhail on the occasion said that Hepatitis Cell Balochistan provided Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT kits) and Engerix-B vaccines to the hospital for the prevention of the disease, adding, over five hundred patients were already getting anti-hepatitis pills free of cost regularly that has shown remarkable results. DHQ head said.

He said the disease spreads through exchange of blood, using infected syringes and razor blades. People should take precautionary measures and avoid using other’s blades, razors and disposable syringes more than one time.

“Creating awareness about the lethal infectious disease Hepatitis and its prevention is our collective responsibility,” adding necessary preventive measures should be adopted before blood transfusion and ensure that the blood is screened for hepatitis and HIV. He stressed.

Medical staff conducted blood screening tests of three hundred and seventy people through RDT kits and vaccinated them against the disease. The screening results showed that out of three hundred and seventy, thirty two people were diagnosed positive with Hepatitis B.