SIALKOT, Sept 18: The district government on Monday launched the hepatitis control programme for providing free treatment to the poor. Addressing the inaugural ceremony held at the Government Nursing Training School, here, district nazim Akmal Cheema said the chief minister had released a grant of Rs60 million to the district government for providing anti-hepatitis vaccine to more than 4,000 health officials and employees, over 3,000 jail inmates and staff of the district jail.

He said a special anti-hepatitis treatment cell had also been set up at the Government Allama Iqbal Memorial DHQ Hospital where more than 150 patients would be given free treatment during the four-day anti-hepatitis vaccination campaign.

DO (blood transfusion) Dr Mohammad Ayub said there were more than 150,000 hepatitis B and C patients in the district.

Naib nazim Rana Ejaz Ahmad, EDO (health) Dr Umer Javaid Gul, district officer (health) Dr Javaid Warraich, district officer (blood transfusion) Dr Mohammad Ayub, nurses and doctors were also present on the occasion.

Addressing another meeting at the district jail, the nazim said more than 3,000 inmates and jail officials and staff would also be vaccinated during the campaign.

Later, the nazim launched the hepatitis control programme at the jail. Jail superintendent Intizar Wali said there were more than 150 hepatitis patients in the jail.