KARACHI, March 2: Sindh chief secretary K. B. Rind has underscored the needs for rejuvenating the school health service and transforming it into an effective and service for the benefit of students.

He also called upon the secretaries of health, education and local bodies to chalk out viable schemes to maintain oral hygiene, besides ensuring tangible measures for vaccination of Hepatitis-B.

He issued these directives following a request forwarded to him through an application by the medical consultant of the Sindh Auqaf Department, Dr. Aziz Khan Tank, and who is also secretary-general of the National Association of General Practitioners.

Dr. Tank, in his letter, had drawn the attention of the chief secretary towards the alarming increase in the number of Hepatitis B patients in Karachi. He informed that currently the number of such children was 600,000-800,000 while in Sindh it was between 16 and 18 lakh.

Dr. Aziz Khan explained the factual situation regarding vaccination of vitamin B and said that although a majority of children are vaccinated during infancy, after the age of 5, they also need to be revaccinated.

The chief secretary, taking cognizance of Dr. Aziz’s presentation, directed the health, local bodies and education secretaries to remind the private school owners to arrange this particular vaccination for their respective students for maintaining their health.

“Similarly they must also ensure appropriate steps regarding this issue in all public and local bodies schools.—PPI