On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, a special jail screening drive related to HIV/AIDS is underway in jails across the province of Punjab. Besides HIV/AIDS, jail inmates are also being screened for Hepatitis B, C and Syphilis. Out of 39 jails in Punjab, so far the screening process has been completed in 32 jails in the province, in which 32,975 prisoners and 3297 jail staff have been screened.

In addition, 29,050 Hepatitis-B negative prisoners and staff were also vaccinated for the former; however, the screening process is currently underway in 7 remaining jails; which would be completed soon. Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, Muhammad Usman laying special emphasis on provision of best health facilities to the people said that all citizens were important. He also issued special instructions to Punjab AIDS Control Program, Hepatitis Control Program and TB Control Program to complete jail screening swiftly.

Giving details about the jail screening programme, Program Director PACP, Dr. Munir Ahmed Malik said that the jail screening process is thoroughly systematic and free, whereas cost treatment is provided to the positive patients. He further said that after basic screening process is completed, further screening of newly added inmates/patients would be carried out by the jail authorities through their own resources, however, all patients testing positive for HIV/AIDS would be provided free of cost treatment by Punjab AIDS Control Program.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019