20000205

Govt to consider

inclusion of

Hepatitis B

in EPI: Rab

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Dr. S. M. Rab has said that the government would look into the possibility of including hepatitis B vaccination in the Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI).

He was speaking as chief guest at the Second SAARC liver Forum at the Aga Khan University Auditorium on Friday. Due to unexplained reasons, medical scientists only from Bangladesh and Nepal attended the meeting. Participants from India, Mauldip, Srilanka, and Bhutan were conspicuous by their absence.

Dr. Rab said he was aware that the health facilities were inadequate and people had no access to basic health care services.

He said hepatitis B was spreading fast and little was being done to check it. The medical practitioners, including family physicians, should do their best to educate their patients about hepatitis B and C and the consequences of this affliction on the family of an afflicted person.

In his introductory remakes, Dr. Saeed Hamid highlighted the general health condition of the people and said the sufferings of the patients could only be alleviated through a well-knit health delivery system.

He said there was over population, lack of potable water, complete absence of clean and healthy atmosphere, increasing pollution etc. to make people suffer from diseases which could otherwise be avoided.

He said to reduce the high incidence of common ailments and many of the viral maladies a little more attention should be paid towards maintaining the health care system.

Dr. Saeed said the government health policies call for minor adjustments such as inclusion of hepatitis B vaccination in the EPI programme.

Speakers in scientific sessions said that there were over a billion people suffering from hepatitis, 350 million were active carriers and there were over two million fatalities.

The virus is fast spreading and posing a danger more serious than AIDS.

They recommended that cheaper vaccines and treatment should be found out as the treatment, as well as vaccination, was a costly 'affair'.

Papers were presented to show various facets of the disease and probable preventive/treatment methods, including the herbal system, hypnotherapy, ayervedic system, yoga practices, and acupuncture as some of the prevention/treatment methods.

Mactor Pakistan, a national pharmaceutical company, marketing one of the cheapest vaccines Ñ a Cuban product, was associated in holding the meeting.

A large number of doctors from all over Pakistan attended the one-day programme and presented their research papers. The meeting was followed by a question and answer session. The panelists included: Dr. Sibtul Hasnain, Dr. Wasim Jafri, Dr. Sarwar Zuberi, Dr. S. M. Shrestha (Nepal), Dr. Mobin Khan (Bangladesh) and Dr. Haleem Khan. Dr. Saeed Hamid acted as moderator.