VEHARI, June 8: Hepatitis cases are on the rise in the Vehari district.

The worst-affected areas are: Chak 9-11/WB, Tibba Sultanpur, Garahamor, Harampur, Sargana Dokota, Jalla Jeem, Machiwal, Gago Mandi, Fatehpur, Luddan Mehfoozabad, Arain Wahin Pirmurad and Muslim Town.

This correspondent conducted a survey in these areas and found at least one person in every two to three houses infected with this deadly disease. Most of the patients were unaware that the disease was infectious.

The survey gives out that the reuse of disposable syringes are the main cause of spreading hepatitis in these areas where quacks run their clinics without any check. The Health Officials visit repeatedly in these areas, but no action has so far been taken against them.

The DHQ Hospital in Vehari, THQs in Mailsi, Burewala and RHCs and BHUs in other parts of the district do not have any mechanism to dispose of the used syringes safely. A sweeper of the Vehari DHQ Hospital said that he sold used syringes at Rs30 per kg to different shops, but he did not disclose their names.

Visiting some clinics of quacks in remote areas of the district, this scribe found the use of a single syringe on many patients.

The people living in remote areas, where healthcare facilities are already scant, are more vulnerable to deadly infectious diseases.

A hepatitis patient, Habib of 9-11/WB, said he had gone to a quack for the treatment of fever. After 15 days, he was tested positive for Hepatitis-B as a result of the used syringe, he said.

Dr Khalid Rauf of the DHQ Hospital said it was the responsibility of doctors to educate patients about the hazardous effects of hepatitis.