KARACHI, Oct 18: Two organizations representing doctors have demanded of the government to get people vaccinated against Hepatitis B. They also demanded an increase in the spending on health.

At a press conference held on Saturday afternoon the office-bearers of the Pakistan Medical Association and the Pakistan Society of Hepatology said a helpline had been set up to create awareness about Hepatitis B. The number is 0800-04000.

The doctors speaking on the occasion — Dr Shershah Syed, Dr Aziz Khan Tank and Dr Syed Hasnain Ali Shah — said if the authorities agreed to get the whole adult population vaccinated the vaccines being sold for Rs300 apiece could be acquired for only Rs50.

Announcing the launch of a campaign against Hepatitis — entitled “Hayat-i-Nau” — they said its prevalence, at about 10 per cent, was too high.

The use of infected needles etc, transfusion of unsafe blood and sex with an infected person fuelled the rate of infection.

Lack of adequate facilities for detection of Hepatitis resulted in a majority of the infected people never, knowing nothing at all about their condition, they said. The infected people, thus, unknowingly infected healthy people.

In response to a question, the speakers said the “Hayat-i-Nau” campaign would be kicked off from Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta on Oct 20. During the seven-day campaign advertisements would be placed in the newspapers and programmes would be broadcast and telecast from various radio and television channels.

During the drive testing facilities would be set up for the benefit of the common people. Besides providing the opportunity to find out about their condition, these centres disseminate information about the dreaded disease.

The aim of the campaign is to let people know that Hepatitis B is a treatable disease. Prevention is better than cure, they said, adding that through better awareness and adequate preventive measures Hepatitis B could be dealt with.