LAHORE: A vigorous campaign for prevention, control and registration of hepatitis patients would soon be launched across the province. It was decided in a meeting held here on Saturday, which was chaired by the Planning and Development (P&D) Department Chairman Jehanzeb Khan. All officers concerned were also present in the meeting. It was decided that sentinel sites would be established at all the tertiary care centres as well as district and tehsil headquarters hospitals for registration, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis patients. Trained doctors and nursing staff would be deputed at these sentinel sites, the meeting decided. The chairman said that an awareness campaign should be launched in the province to motivate hepatitis patients for registration. “For the purpose, elected public representatives and local bodies should also be taken onboard.” Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that provision of quality healthcare services and prevention of diseases was the mission of the chief minister for which the Health Department was taking consolidated measures. He said that the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) would play a vital role for training and capacity building of doctors, nurses posted at the sentinel centres, besides playing a third party role to monitor the quality of services at these centres. Jehanzeb Khan said that the Punjab government would provide funds through Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme for training, capacity building of the doctors and nurses. Primary and Secondary Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir said, “Public sector hospitals are providing medical cover to millions of patients and thousands of patients are being cured at these health facilities on a daily basis.” Earlier, Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme Director Dr Zaida Sarwar told the meeting that the programme was providing treatment facilities to 30,000 hepatitis patients; however, new initiatives would help battle infectious disease. Member Health Dr Shabana Haider said that health insurance scheme was also providing health cover to the poor hepatitis patients through health cards. PKLI President Prof Saeed Akhtar said that the institute was ready to extend all cooperation and technical expertise to the Punjab government for prevention of hepatitis in Punjab.