July 21, 2008	Monday	Rajab 17, 1429

HYDERABAD, July 20: District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil has said that hepatitis-B and C are posing a great challenge to the world, including Pakistan, and the issue needs to be tackled on war footing.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a free medical camp set-up at Behram village by Ehasas Welfare Trust here on Sunday.

He said used syringes and blades were the root-causes of transfer of hepatitis from one person to another and advised patients to purchase new syringes before going to doctors for injection.

He said the patients should always avoid quacks in their own interest and whenever they went to hair the dresser for a shave, they should take a new blade with them.

Mr Jamil said that the district government of Hyderabad with its limited resources was providing medical treatment to hepatitis patients free of cost.

He also lauded the efforts of the Ehasas Welfare Trust for free medical treatment to the villagers and said that this service amounted to worship.

Due to the increase in the population, the government hospitals could not cater to the medical needs of the patients, the district nazim said and called upon the welfare societies to emulate Ehasas Welfare Trust in the service of ailing humanity.

He said that the initial expenses for the treatment of Hepatitis-B and C were between Rs40,000 to Rs50,000 but for full treatment a staggering amount of Rs300,000 was required. It was, therefore, of utmost importance that the patients should always purchase new syringe and new blade.

He said that the people should always try to get themselves vaccinated against this fatal disease to immunise themselves.

He disclosed that 1,000 hepatitis patients were being provided free medical treatment by the district government and added that with each passing day, the number of patients was increasing.—Bureau