PESHAWAR, Dec 20: Experts attending a workshop said that reuse of syringes, multiple injections and transfusion of unscreened blood were major causes of the spread of hepatitis B and C.

They stressed use of oral medication and screened blood for transfusion.

The workshop was organized by the Safe Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) in collaboration with the NWFP enhanced HIV/AIDS control programme at the Lady Reading Hospital on Tuesday. Medical superintendents, agency surgeons and executive district officers of the department of health attended the workshop.

Addressing participants, Peshawar Medical College principal Dr Najibul Haq said that a study of the case history of 482 hepatitis B and C positive patients in the NWFP confirmed that 78 per cent of them were infected by the reuse of syringes or were administered multiple injections, whereas 19 per cent of them were transmitted the infection by unsafe blood transfusion.

He suggested that medical professionals should avoid injections and prefer oral treatment.

It was their responsibility to make people aware of the dangers associated with injections and reuse of syringes, he added.

Dr Bernd Appelt of the GTZ said that his organization was spending Rs900 million in the NWFP health sector.

Dr Fazle Raziq was of the view that unsafe blood transfusion and unsterilized syringes were also the major causes of transmitting HIV/Aids.

He said that 466 HIV/Aids positive patients were in the NWFP and most of Pakistani expatriates deported on account of being tested positive for HIV/Aids.

He said that owing to the presence of HIV/Aids patients it was more important to screen blood before transfusion and avoid reuse of syringes.

SBTA coordinator Dr Amir Rehman Jadoon said that most of the blood banks in the provincial metropolis were being run by unqualified people. “We don’t have the power to close these illegal blood banks, due to which they are mushrooming.”

He urged the government to amend the relevant law and give powers to the SBTA and Health Regulatory Authority (HRA) to take action against illegally operated outlets.