Viral hepatitis is no longer a serious disease with the advancement of medical sciences, Manipur Health Services director Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang said on Friday.
“Viral hepatitis is no longer a serious disease with the advancement of medical sciences. Any infected person can be treated through proper diagnosis,” the Health director said while speaking at the launch of the weeklong campaign on World Hepatitis Day 2022.
A weeklong campaign on ‘World Hepatitis Day 2022’ was launched under the theme “Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer to You” at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, Imphal West on Friday.
Pointing out that the government is providing free treatment for viral hepatitis, Dr Sasheekumar advised people to get tested early, “as early diagnosis is the key to recover from infection successfully”.
The programme, organised by the Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) and supported by Gilead Science, aims to help achieve the global commitment of eliminating hepatitis by 2030.
The role of NGO is immense in combating public health issues, Dr Sasheekumar said.
Pointing out that there are certain areas where government machineries are helpless to reach but NGOs can, he called for proper coordination between the government and NGOs working in related fields.
CoNE president RK Nalinikanta said the weeklong campaign is being held to create massive awareness on hepatitis, as many people are not aware of the hepatitis status.
As many as 296 million people are infected with viral hepatitis B and 58 million with viral hepatitis C, according to the 2019 WHO report. But 83 per cent of the population does not know the hepatitis status due lack of proper awareness, he said. The mortality and morbidity rate triggered by hepatitis B and C is also high among PLHIV, he added.
Pointing out that the state does not have proper data for hepatitis infection, Nalinikanta said findings of a survey carried out by some independent bodies show that the state has a high infection rate of hepatitis B and C.
During the weeklong campaign, series of activities will be conducted in nine districts of the state. Hepatitis B screening and vaccination camp among high-risk group, CMHT enrolment camp for marginalised populations and motorcycle rally at Imphal West and Imphal East will be carried out, he added.
