MULTAN, Oct 19: The Pakistan Medical Association and the Pakistan Society of Hepatology are launching a campaign for the screening of hepatitis B in six major cities of the country from Oct 20 (today).

The PMA and PSH have given their joint campaign the title ‘Hayat-i-Nau’ and it will continue till Oct 26 in Karachi, Quetta, Multan, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar.

Talking to newsmen, Multan PMA secretary-general Shahid Rao said the Hepatitis B tests would be conducted on the spot. He said effective and long-lasting vaccines of hepatitis B would be available at Hayat-i-Nau centres at discounted rates.

He said the PMA and PSH had also established a toll free helpline 0800-04000 so that the people could get free information about the ‘Hayat-i-Nau’ centres.

Mr Rao expressed his concern over the rising incidence of Hepatitis B in the country and attributed this menace to the use of infected apparatus of dental surgeons, barbers, ear and nose piercing needles and infected syringes.

Besides, the transfusion of infected blood and transmission of diseases from infected mothers to the newborns were some other factors, he said.

Moreover, the lack of diagnostic facilities had rendered many persons to be unaware of that they were suffering from Hepatitis B.

He said the disease targeted the liver and could give rise to many serious complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer, he added.