LARKANA, June 3: A group of 20 NGOs working in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts formed a regional action network on Saturday to fight against increased cases of blood-borne diseases in the region.

At a meeting hosted by the health and education society, representatives of NGOs and civil society organisations discussed causes of increase in HIV/Aids cases and hepatitis in the area.

They said that unregistered blood banks, use of one syringe on several patients and saloons of barbers were the main source of spreading of Hepatitis and HIV/Aids cases in the two districts.

A seven-member working committee was also formed to start an awareness campaign in the two districts.

The committee will be headed by eminent psychiatrist and civil society activist Dr Zulfikar Rahoojo.

The meeting was told that 350 NGOs were registered in the Larkana district alone but a few of them were working against HIV/Aids, Hepatitis B and C.

Expressing concern over multiplying cases of HIV and Hepatitis in the two districts, the NGO coalition demanded that clinics of quacks and Hakeems must be closed.

The meeting said that the number of drug users and addicts was on the rise in Qambar-Shahdadkot district which required urgent measures.

PROTEST: Activists of the Sindh National Front took out a procession and blocked the Airport Road at the Channa Bridge for three hours in protest against registration of false cases against SNF workers.