Need for data on Hep C infection stressed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 28 2016: Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) and MACS Partner NGO's Forum (MPNF) jointly observed World Hepatitis Day with the support from Manipur State Legal Service Authority (MSLSA) at the auditorium of High Court of Manipur under the theme 'elimination' today.

The function was attended by Justice N Kotiswar, MACS Project Director Hungyo Worshang and MSLSA member secretary RK Memcha as presidium members.

Justice N Kotiswar said that the Constitution of India guarantees various fundamental rights including Art 21 (Right to Life) .

He said, "The right to life also includes right to self preservation.

Therefore there is close connection between health issues and the law.

Health is a very important part of the legal rights.

As such there is a need to provide awareness on health" .

He said that even the Supreme Court had made it clear that the role of Judges is not only to pass judgment but also to provide legal awareness on health issues.

Hungyo Worshang said that the positivity rate of Hepatitis C among the general population as per 2015-16 record is 0.9 per cent which is much higher than HIV.

He said, "We have data of the number of Hepatitis C patients in the State.

However, there is no specific, authenticated and approved data.

Only when there is specific data over the prevalence rate of Hepatitis C, the "elimination" of the disease could be possible" .

Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist of JNIMS Dr N Surajkumar said that Hepatitis C is a silent killer and of the 40,000 blood donors (general population) 1.5 per cent were found positive which is quite alarming.

"Another problem is that there are no adequate specialized doctors in this field.

When there is no scope for treatment, there is no logic in carrying out screening campaign on Hepatitis C.Therefore the policy makers should take more initiative in this regard", Dr Surajkumar said.

A leaflet on ABCs of Hep C was also released on the occasion by Justice N Kotiswar.

CoNE secretary S Iranananda in his keynote address, said that the State did not have any official data of Hepatitis C patients earlier.

However, CoNE with the support from the Directorate of Health Services, MACS and NGOs conducted a survey in all the nine districts of the State in 2014.More than 463 people were found infected by the Hepatitis C virus during the survey, he said.

Irananda further said that CoNE began to organise awareness programmes from 2012 .

He further said that atleast 60 patients belonging to BPL families have been provided medical reimbursement through the Directorate of Health Services so far.

Saying that the Directorate had also provided treatment free of cost to single parent Hepatitis patients, Irananda said that they would request the Directorate to continue it in the future as well.

He also urged the Directorate to organize mass vaccination programmes to check spread of Hepatitis C .

Different resources persons spoke on the role of NGOs in the management, prevention and treatment of Hepatitis C .

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