KARACHI, May 29: The World Health Organization, in collaboration with federal health ministry, would administer Hepatitis-B vaccination throughout the country, especially in rural areas.

This was stated by Dr Faizullah Kakar, Programme Director, WHO, Islamabad, while speaking at an awareness symposium about Hepatitis-B, arranged by the AlMustafa Welfare Society.

Speakers at the symposium expressed deep concern over the increasing number of Hepatitis-B patients and advised the public to increase vegetable consumption and use boiled water only.

Dr Kakar said that the lethal disease was a severe form of Jaundice, caused by complication in liver functions.

He emphasized on precautionary measures against the disease and He hoped that efforts in this regard would prove fruitful.

Programme manager, WHO-Sindh, Dr GN Qazi, said that paper work had been completed to control the epidemic and the programme was underway in rural areas with the cooperation of local NGOs, in which free vaccination was being provided to hospitals.

AWS chief patron Hanif Taib said that the aim of the symposium was to establish coordination among NGOs for effective social services. He underlined the need to serve humanity without any political or ethnic discrimination.

The chief guest, head of Hilton Pharma, Sardar Yasin Malik, lauding the social services of the AWS, urged other NGOs to follow its example. He assured his full cooperation to all NGOs in rendering social services. The AWS President Ahmed Abdul Shakoor delivered vote of thanks.-PPI