10 percent prisoners in Sindh suffering from Hepatitis B and C

05 Aug, 2011

Its very alarming situation for Sindh government that 10 percent prisoners of about all prisons of Sindh have been suffering from Hepatitis B and C, Well-placed sources unveiled to Business Recorder on Thursday. Following the verdict of Sindh High Court (SHC), Hepatitis Prevention and Control Programme (HPCP) had started screening of all prisoners available in 25 Central, district and Special prisons of province.
Approximately, 13,500 prisoners are available in all prisons of Sindh and 9,350 prisoners have been screened by the various teams of HPCP so far, sources told. More than 900 prisoners have been identified as patients of Hepatitis B and C out of total 9,350 screened prisoners available in all prisons of Sindh, Sources told.
Hepatitis B and C screening of 9,350 prisoners have been completed while this process would remain continued and rest of about 4,500 prisoners will also come under this screening process as their treatment would be assured. According to details, 1,056 prisoners of Central Prison Karachi have been screened while 107 out of them have been found as patients of Hepatitis.
Similarly, 672 prisoners of Central Prison Hyderabad have been screened and 72 out of them have been registered as patients of Hepatitis, sources told. Same like that, 187 prisoners have been found as patients of Hepatitis in Central Prison-I Sukkur, 13 in Central Prison-II Sukkur, 120 in Central Prison Larkana, nine in Central Prison Khairpur Mir's, 22 in District Prison Malir, 16 in District Prison Dadu, nine in District Prison Badin, nine in District Prison Benazir Bhutto Abad (Nawabshah), 26 in District Prison Sanghar, 13 in District Prison Mirpurkhas, 80 in District Prison Shikarpur, 37 in District Prison Jacobabad, 80 in District Prison Naushehroferoze, 42 in District Prison Ghotki, 65 in Special Prison Naara Hyderabad, four in Youthful offenders Industrial School Karachi, only one in Special Prison for women Karachi and one prisoner has been found in Hepatitis in Special Prison for Women Hyderabad, sources informed.
While, the screening of Hepatitis has not been started in District Prison Larkana, Youthful offenders Industrial School Larkana, Youthful offenders Industrial School Central Prison-I Sukkur yet, where the work would be started very soon, sources further told.
Besides, 60 prisoners of prisons of Karachi have also been identified as HIV/AIDS patients out of total 1024 whom HIV/Aids tests were carried out by the teams of Sindh AIDS Control Programme (SACP). Keeping in view such horrific situation of prisons, the Provincial Prisons' Department and Prisons Police have imposed health emergency in all prisons of province. The authorities of prisons have shifted all Hepatitis patients in separate barracks and their treatment is also underway, sources told.
Whereas, the authorities of prisons are preparing record of releasing inmates, who have been identified as patients of Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS as relevant officials of SACP and HPCP, they could continue their treatments. Sindh government is also thinking to enhance the Health budgets of prisons as well, sources added.

Read Comments