PESHAWAR, Oct 22: The federal government plans to instal incinerators in seven district headquarters hospitals in the NWFP to control hepatitis, said an official.

“We have decided to instal incinerators in seven districts of the NWFP under the Prime Minister’s Hepatitis Control Programme,” said provincial coordinator Dr Ihsan Turabi.

He said hospitals for incinerators would be selected after the return of the health secretary from abroad, adding that the districts where the hepatitis rate was high would be considered.

The coordinator said other anti-hepatitis measures were also being taken.

He pointed out that re-use of syringes, transfusion of unscreened blood, piercing of ears and nose and getting shaved at the barbers’ shop were the main causes of spread of the deadly disease.

Dr Turabi said that free diagnostic and treatment facilities were introduced in 10 districts last year.

He said the emphasis was on prevention of hepatitis as the cost of diagnosis and treatment was high.

“So far we have provided hepatitis C injections to 1,020 patients in the province,” he said, adding that Rs6,000 was spent on one patient. Each patient undergoes certain tests costing Rs14,000.

He said the programme had been introduced in Mardan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Upper Dir, Kohat, Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Swabi and Nowshera.

“In Mardan alone doctors have registered 275 more hepatitis patients,” he said, adding that the number had been estimated at 80.

“Our focus is on vaccination of vulnerable population against hepatitis B,” he said and added that about 10,000 jail inmates would soon be vaccinated against the disease.

Later this month, the provincial chief secretary would inaugurate the vaccination campaign among jail inmates in Peshawar.

He said screening of health workers would start after Eid and patients suffering from certain other diseases as well as drug addicts would also be vaccinated against hepatitis B.