Use Of Unsterile Syringes Transmit Hepatitis B And C

Unsterile needles and syringes may transmit blood-borne infectious agents such as HIV and hepatitis B virus

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Oct, 2018 ) :Unsterile needles and syringes may transmit blood-borne infectious agents such as HIV and hepatitis B virus.

Talking to APP here on Monday, eminent physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine LUMHS Jamshoro Dr.Santosh Kumar said that the emergence of these diseases as major public health concerns and the risk of transmission heightened interest in the development of single-use injection devices.

Dr.Santosh Kumar said that only sterilized syringes could protect them from other disease, but the situation could be grave if the patients become the victim of reused syringe.

According to a survey, he said that that rate of using injection is 14 per patient per year in Pakistan, which is highest as compared to other countries and the use of unsafe syringes are becoming the patients, the victims of Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C,added.

He said that the rate of Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C is increasing in the country particularly in Sindh due to lack of knowledge about its prevention. The burden of the disease associated with unsafe therapeutic injection in the country particularly in Sindh is very high, he said.

Dr.Santosh Kumar emphasized the need of spreading awareness about the threats of the use of unsafe syringes particularly in rural areas of the country, where the victims of deadly patients are increasing due to lack of knowledge.

He said that majority of the people of the country believed that the use of injection could bring early relief from their pain that's why they force their doctors for injections.

The doctors also prefer to prescribe injections to the patients for providing them early relief, he added.

He said that 45 percent syringes, which available in the market with new packs are un-sterilized while such unsafe injections are causing 84 percent Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C diseases among the people. If early efforts were not made, the sale of unsafe syringes would increase to 50 percent by the year 2021, he cautioned.

He also said that the majority of the people particularly 90 percent of women do not know about the hazards of unsafe syringes, that bringing them the patients of Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C and HIV/AIDS.

He emphasized the need of destroying syringes after first time usage and the doctor should ensure the use of unsafe syringes to the patients.

The treatment of such deadly diseases is very costly and there is the need that the people should take precautionary measures and prevent themselves from these diseases through vaccination and the use of safe syringes, Dr. Santosh added.

He also expressed his grave concern over the habit of medics, paramedics as well as quacks for using the reused syringes and playing the precious lives of the people by making them patients of deadly diseases.

He said that public awareness through print and electronic media could help the people to prevent themselves from the quacks, who are habitual of the repeated use of syringes, playing havoc with the life the people.