The Director-General, Sindh Health Services, Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi, has expressed concern over the increasing number of Hepatitis patients in Sindh, and emphasised the need for effective measures on war footing basis.
Around three million victims of different types of Hepatitis diseases have so far been reported in all 23 districts of Sindh province in which the number of Hepatitis patients of Qambar-Shahdadkot district is higher as compared to other districts of the province, he said.
Out of three million Hepatitis patients, he said, 1.75 million are suffering from Hepatitis-C, 1.5 million patients from Hepatitis-B and 0.075 million have been reported in grip of newly identified Delta-Virus.
The increasing number of patients needs prompt attention to prevent Hepatitis Virus, otherwise the figures of the victims could further be increased, he said. However, he clarified that no patient of newly identified disease of Delta Virus has so far died.
He held the quacks responsible for spreading the viral diseases in the province including Hepatitis and said that stern action is required against them. Under Prime Minister's programme of prevention of hepatitis disease, he said, medical kits along with medicines were being provided to Hepatitis patients.
However, due to insufficient quantity, majority of the patients is still waiting for proper medication.
Out of 35,000 registered patients, only 5500 patients are getting the medical facility against Hepatitis, he said, and added that there is need to increase medicine quota for Sindh province under the Prime Minister's programme.
He, however, praised the efforts of district governments for playing important role in prevention of Hepatitis diseases within limited resources, but said that in view of the increasing number of the patients, there is need to adopt extraordinary measures in this direction.