MARDAN, May 3: Experts have expressed concern over increase in hepatitis incidence and called upon the government to implement a law banning reuse of syringes and make screening of blood mandatory before transfusing it to patients.

“Diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis are very expensive. The only way to keep the disease at bay is preventive measures,” said Dr Syed Waheed Uzair.

He was speaking at a free medical camp organised by Malgari Doctoran in collaboration with the Humanitarian Organisation for People’s Empowerment (HOPE) in Muhib Banda village here on Thursday.

Citing a study conducted by the World Health Organisation in Buner and Nowshera districts, he said that the disease was prevalent among 30 per cent of the population there.

The study, he said, had revealed that most of the disease had mainly been caused by quakes who administered injections to several patients with one syringe without sterilising it.

About 635 patients, including 150 women and 270 children, were examined by doctors at the camp and were provided free medicines. Of the 30 patients screened for hepatitis, six emerged positive.

Dr Mohammad Ali, another physician, said that people should adopt cleanliness habits and better hygiene to remain safe from the ailment. He said that hand-washing before and after the meal could reduce 38 per cent of diarrhoea.

He advised the people to insist on oral medication when they visit medical practitioners. He said that multiple injections were one of the main factors causing hepatitis.

Dr Ali pointed out that hepatitis spread through unscreened blood transfusion, use of un-sterilised syringes, unsafe sex, use of contaminated instruments, shaving at barber shops and tattooing of ears and nose.

He said that daily bath, cutting of nail and wearing of clean dresses could save the people from host of ailments.

Najamul Hasan of HOPE urged the government to regulate the health sector and implement the safe blood transfusion act in letter and spirit to cope with the problem of hepatitis.