NAWABSHAH, March 21: An increase in the number of hepatitis cases has created an alarming situation in the district as a large number of patients have been admitted to the People’s Medical College Hospital. A survey conducted by this correspondent revealed that more than 27 cases of hepatitis B, C, cirrhosis and hepatic coma were admitted to three medical units of the hospital.

Twelve patients were admitted to the medical unit-I whereas eight patients suffering from hepatitis died in the same ward in last two months.

There were 10 patients in the medical unit-II and five in medical unit-III.

Dr Mohammad Saleem Faiz said that number of cases was much higher than last year as patients come and go daily due to non-availability of vaccines.

He said that most of cases were very serious and the chances of survival were very low.

He said that most of the patients could not afford the expenses and were getting medicines on Zakat funds.

He said that there was check of the health department and dozens of blood banks were working opposite the PMC hospital and selling unscreened blood.

Dr Faiz said that there was no general screening or vaccination available in the government hospital and they only treat patients symptomatically.

This was the figure of only the PMCH and there were many other cases in different private hospital and government health centres throughout the district and there were also many cases that could not reach to the city and get treated by quacks which were running their business in different areas.

The medial superintendent of the PMCH, Dr Mehfooz Ahmed Qureshi said that separate kits were being used in the PMC hospital for hepatitis patients and chemical was also used for sterilization of equipments.

He said that separate dialysis units were being used for hepatitis cases in the urology ward.

The district as well as the provincial health departments has so far failed to stop quack practicing despite the announcement of taking strict action.

At least 1,500 quack in the district were a main cause of rapid spread of disease who do not known anything about medical sciences and mistreat the patient and when the case become very serious, they advice patients to go to city hospital.

These quacks were using glass syringes to administer dose to patients and then reuse them several times which increases the risk of transfer of disease.

Unsafe blood transfusion was also the main cause of the rapid spread as most of the laboratories or blood banks operating in various parts of district were not being regularly monitored by the health department.

Barbers at their hair cutting saloons also reuse the blades for many shaves which was also the causing spread of the disease.

EDO (health) Dr Abdul Khaliq Mangnejo said that action was being taken and warnings were issued to quacks who were the main cause of spreading hepatitis and other serious diseases.

He said that there were 37 blood banks including 25 private and officials number of quacks was 200 in the district.

He said that there was no such legislation against them but whoever was doing wrong would be taken to task.

He said that officers were deputed for collecting data of quacks working in the district and soon cases would be registered against them.

District Nazim Faryal Talpur said that the district administration was making all out efforts to provide basic health facilities to the public.