Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 26:
In association with Integrated Rural Development Welfare Association Manipur, the Shantha Biotechnics Ltd (SBL) organised a one day awareness cum Hepatitis-B vaccination programme on March 25 at the office of SEWA, RIAC Project DIC Litan Sareikhong in Ukhrul district.
Highlighting the aims and objectives of the programme, the chief project organiser of SBL, Vhim Khati said, such initiative is designed to keep people free from Hepatitis-B which he identified as a dreaded and incurable disease 100 times more infectious than AIDS.
Expressing concern over people especially in the villages, he said "Although we have conducted awareness programme in some areas in the valley region our focus at present is in the hill areas since these people are usually having poor access to the nature of this disease.
And in conducting such programme we are also providing technical guidelines about the disease".
Hepatitis-B vaccination programme under SBL is conducted at a duration of three dosses at one month interval and each dose cost Rs 80 for adult and Rs 40 for children.
People of any age can be infected with H-B and in India alone there are 450 lacs carriers of this disease which claims 2 lacs lives every year against the toll of HIV/AIDS which is 500 according to Vhim.
People of any age can be infected with Hepatitis and although there is no 100% cure once infected, the disease can be timely prevented by taking WHO approved Shanvac-B vaccine which is manufactured by Shantha Biotechnics Ltd, he maintained.