The Sindh Health Department on Thursday expressed deep concern over the increasing number of AIDs and Hepatitis patients in the province, and directed the AIDs and Hepatitis Control Programmes managers to expedite immunisation process against the fatal diseases.
Health Minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, presiding over a meeting at his office, directed AIDs Control Programme Manager Dr Younus Chachar and Hepatitis Control Programme Manager Dr Abdul Khaliq Shaikh to launch a rigorous drive against the two diseases and create awareness at the grass-root level.
The meeting was briefed by AIDs Programme Manager Chachar that so far 8,872 cases of HIV positive and 235 cases of AIDs had been reported officially but the number of cases might soar to 40,000.
At this, the minister urged upon the meeting to observe zero tolerance against the diseases and establish prevention and care centres in all districts across the province.
Dahar urged the Education Ministry to include awareness lessons on diseases like AIDs, Hepatitis and Dengue in the curriculum to create awareness among the students.
Hepatitis Control Programme Manager Dr Khaliq Shaikh informed the meeting that till October 15, some 2,14,966 hepatitis diagnosed patients had been registered, out of which 1,69,739 were provided treatment while 77,89,445 people were vaccinated against the hepatitis.
