KARACHI, Jan 13: Doctors at a seminar on "Fight Against Infections", organized here on Tuesday as part of the ongoing Public Health Awareness Week at Liaquat National Hospital , underscored need for due consideration towards personal hygiene as well as concerted efforts to combat growing levels of pollution in the country.

In a presentation on 'Viral Hepatitis: A Silent Killer', Dr Jamila Esmail said that people were increasingly inflicted with Hepatitis B and C due to their indifference towards provision for safe blood transfusion facilities. She said that increasing demand for intravenous medical support, particularly in context of administration of injections and drip therapy besides little care for nose piercing and little regard for safe intimate relationships were major causes of the disease.

Discussing constant increase in chest infections and tuberculosis, Dr Mossavir Ansarie registered his reservations regarding the ongoing TB Control Programme. He observed with deep concern that the disease was particularly witnessed to affecting the masses in rural areas, where people were generally unable to meet the medical expenditure.

Dr Ali Arsalan said that around 10 per cent of the local population was suffering from chest infections. In global context, he said 160 million people were asthamics and 14 per cent of the world population were witnessed to develop the condition on yearly basis.

The doctors also referred to varied allergens triggering the condition and particularly referred to smoking as the major contributory factor for chest infections. Dr Mir Saleem said that approximately 22 billion cigarettes were smoked each year.-APP