KARACHI: Dr Zulfiqar Ali Dharejo Additional Director in-charge of Sindh Government’s Hepatitis-Free Sindh Program, has said that a 10-day Hepatitis Screening Vaccination Camp was organized at Malir Jail Karachi on the special instructions of Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechoho.

Hepatitis B and C tests were conducted in which about 71 drug addicts were found to be infected with hepatitis and about 3396 prisoners were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Hepatitis drugs were also provided to the concerned jail doctor for immediate free treatment of 71 drug addicts who were tested positive for Hepatitis B and C PCR tests.

The camp was inaugurated by Jail Superintendent Syed Arshad Shah, Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Dharejo, Additional Director Hepatitis Wigram Sindh, Dr. Ali Asghar Sheikh Focal Person Malir Jail, Coordinator Hepatitis Wigram Sindh Khurram Khan, Hepatitis staff and prison staff. On the occasion, Dr Zulfiqar Ali Dharejo said that the purpose of setting up Hepatitis Camp in the jail was to provide free hepatitis test and treatment facility to drug addicts and other prisoners as complaints of contagious diseases like Hepatitis were common among drug addicts.

He said, ‘We need to treat them regularly so that other people and prisoners as well as their families can be protected from hepatitis. Camps will be set up in other jails of the province.’ Jail Superintendent Syed Arshad Shah thanked Dr Zulfiqar Ali Dharejo and his team for organizing the camp and assured full cooperation. Coordinator Hepatitis Program Sindh Khurram Khan briefed the inmates about the prevention and spread of Hepatitis.