PESHAWAR, June 18: Health workers are quite vulnerable to hepatitis, say experts. According to them, about 10 per cent of health workers in the federal hospitals recently tested positive for C-type of the blood-borne disease.

About the prevalence of the B-type of the disease, the manager of the Prime Minister’s Programme for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis, Dr Sharif Ahmad Khan, said: “Some 6 per cent have been diagnosed to have hepatitis B in a screening carried out among health workers working for the health institutions in the federal capital.”

Addressing a one-day workshop on hepatitis on Monday, he said the prime minister’s Rs2.59billion, five-year programme (2005-10) was aimed at reducing the disease by 50 per cent through putting in place preventive measures coupled with curative steps.

The measures included hospital waste management, provision of safe water and sanitation in order to put brakes on A- and E- types of the disease. So far, 104 hospitals had been equipped to diagnose patients through a surveillance system, he said, adding that 150 hospitals would be provided with the facility by the end of the year.

Citing 220 studies conducted at premier health institutions, he said the prevalence of hepatitis B and C was 3-4 per cent and 5-6 per cent of the population, respectively.

Citing a WHO study, he said that one person in Pakistan received 13 injections per year, the highest in the world, which is stated to be the prime reason for the spread of the disease. He said about 25 per cent of hepatitis C patients did not need injections, adding that patients should undergo certain tests before being administered injectables.

Studies had proved that 60 per cent of the injectables were effective globally, he said. The prime minister’s programme in collaboration with the Pakistan Medical and Research Council was collecting 49,000 blood samples to ascertain the full magnitude of the disease.

He said that seven satellite laboratories were being established for testing water quality, besides installation of 148 triple-chambered incinerators in an effort to control the ailment. He said: “Blood-borne types of hepatitis B and C are caused by re-using syringes, un-screened blood transfusion, piercing ears and nose with contaminated needles, and being shaved at a barbers' shop.”