Infection Control Society Pakistan (ICSP) with key stake holders Sindh Health Care Commission(SHCC), Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Bridge Consultants Foundation (BCF), Balochistan Research Development Foundation (BRDF) and Safe Covax Program in association with Shifa Medical Devices, Sy’ah Impex.
WHO declared HIV/AIDS outbreak in Ratodero back in 2019 mainly due to the re-use of syringes. To overcome such outbreaks in future, the Ministry of Health of Pakistan and health authorities decided to replace conventional disposable syringes with (Auto Disable) AD disposable syringes in Pakistan w.e.f March 31st 2021 for importers and July 1st 2021 for manufacturers. The ban on sale of conventional syringes was imposed from December 1st, 2021.
Prof. Dr. Rafiq Khanani , President Infection Control Society Pakistan introduced, ICSP founded in 1994 with a purpose that “no one is safe until everyone is safe”. ICSP is a member of the International Federation of Infection Control (IFIC), which consists of a global network encompassing over 100 Infection Prevention & Control societies all over globe. Dr. Khanani informed that ICSP had launched nation wide AD syringe awareness program (ASAP) Campaign as a new year resolution on January 1, 2022 from Karachi. ASAP Campaign will be focusing to eliminate the re-use of syringes through the slogan as follows:
One Needle
One AD Syringe
One Time Only
Dr. Ahson Qavi Siddiqui, CEO ,Sindh Health Care Commission (SHCC) endorsed this initiative of Auto-Disable Syringe Awareness Program (ASAP) led by Infection Control Society of Pakistan (ICSP) ,PMA ,Bridge Consultants Foundation with other key stake holders like Bridge Consultants Foundation, Safe Covax Program, BRDF and others.
Dr.Sajjad Qaiser, Gen Secretary PMA Centre Karachi, emphasized this ASAP Campaign is the need of the hour and AD syringe widely usage all across Pakistan will certainly reduce blood borne based infectious diseases in Pakistan
Dr. Sharaf Ali Shah, Public Health Specialist and CEO, Bridge Consultants Foundation. BCF is engaged and involved with WHO,UNICEF etc for such initiatives of Safe Injection Program and other programs related with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B & C .Dr.Shah discussed the statistics related with such diseases.
Syed Omer Ahmed, CEO of Sy’ah Impex appreciated the decision of the Government to introduce Auto-Destruct syringes and that his company is giving all out support to the Infection Control Society Pakistan through its flagship E.T.E (Educate.Transform.Eliminate) program through which paramedical and nursing staff are trained on how to use AD syringes. However, he said that since the decision was made for the public welfare it is imperative that General Sales Tax is removed on import and supply of an expensive product so that it
becomes feasible for the patient to purchase. Furthermore the Drug Regulatory Authority needs to ensure that no manufacturer is allowed to sell conventional syringe anymore.
Naeem Khanani , COO Safe Covax Program and Director Citilab Diagnostic Center emphasized that full vaccination include booster dose and wearing masks to control widely spread Covid in Urban settings. He also emphasized General public to ask paramedics for AD syringe usage for all injectables as safe injection best practice. He also informed that vaccination through EPI and Covid Vaccination are already being administered through AD syringes
ICSP thanked SHCC,PMA and all key stake holders for their support, endorsement and willingness to opt for best practices of Infection Prevention and Control in Pakistan.
ICSP President and other stake holders of ASAP campaign signed pledge to support and reduce blood borne infectious diseases by adopting best practices of Infection Control and Prevention and to start usage of AD Syringes for One time only with its proper disposal.
