KHUJAND, August 30, 2008, Asia-Plus — Medical humanitarian cargo has arrived in the Sughd province from the United States through the Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere). The aid includes 30,000 hepatitis B vaccines.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Mumin Bobojonov, head of the branch of the Immunoprophylactic Center for Sughd, said 7,000 vaccines will remain in the Sughd province, while others will be sent to the south of the country in the near future.
“Medical workers in contact with risk group patients will be inoculated with the vaccine,” said Bobojonov, “We are currently discussing the possibility of vaccinating students at Medical College, who will work with medical facilities in the province, as well.”
According to him, it is the second hepatitis B immunization campaign amongst medical workers in northern Tajikistan; the first one was carried out in 2004.
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that affects the liver. Adults who get hepatitis B usually recover. However most infants infected at birth become chronic carriers i.e. they carry the virus for many years and can spread the infection to others. In 2000, there were an estimated 5.7 million cases of acute hepatitis B infection and more than 521 000 deaths from hepatitis B-related disease.
