PESHAWAR, Aug 21: NWFP Health Minister Dr Meher Taj Roghani has disclosed that the government would include Hepatitis B vaccines in the Expanded Programme on Immunisation from next month in order to save the coming generation from falling victim to the deadly infection.

“Each and every child below five year of age in the Frontier province and its adjacent tribal areas will be vaccinated free of cost against Hepatitis B from Sept 1. This would cost dearly to the government but we are much concerned about the preventive measures regarding the elimination of disease than the curative ones which are most expensive,” said Roghani at a press briefing here on Wednesday.

According to her, preference had been accorded to primary health care in the National Health Policy and towards that end about 1,000 lady health workers (LHWs) would be inducted in addition to 5,000 who were already working to mobilise the masses to adopt family planning methods and vaccinate their offsprings against the deadly epidemics in time.

The LHWs, he said, would cater to the needs of 84 per cent of the population in the 23 districts of the province.

“Health status in any country indicate development but in country like ours about 60-70 per cent children are suffering from anaemia which affect their mental health.”