National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme to reach out to prison inmates
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 06 2019: With an aim to ensure that the prison inmates get Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) related services, awareness and screening camps on Hepatitis C under the recently launched National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) will be conducted in prison settings in phase manner, said CoNE (Community Network for Empowerment) in a statement today.

The decision to this effect was arrived at the discussion session of a daylong "Consultation meeting with Prison Authorities, NHM and steering committee of NVHCP-Manipur" held under the aegis of CoNE at the Classic Grande, Chingmeirong on Friday.

The discussion was moderated by Dr Sasheekumar Mangang, Additional Director (MD), Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Manipur, said CoNE.

National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme to reach out to prison inmates

The consultation meeting adopted a number of resolutions.

Besides awareness and screening programme inside prison settings through NVHCP in phase manner, it also decided to treat non-cirrhotic patients/inmates.

The meeting resolved to urge the Government to set up a proper strategy to provide staff concerned with facilities needed for successful implementation of NVHCP through collective responsibility and initiative of all stakeholders concerned.

NVHCP is to collaborate with existing HIV intervention programme implemented under MSACS to scale high risk population of the State, read a resolution.

The meeting also decided to convene a meeting at the earliest by NVHCP State unit with steering committee members, MSACS officials and CBOs/NGOs to develop a specific mechanism in this regard, said CoNE.

The consultation meeting was primarily organised with the objective to develop a strategy to raise awareness, testing & treatment inside the prison settings under NVHCP and to sensitise the authority concern to improve the health care facilities inside the prison settings.

It also aimed at exploring the scope of developing a mechanism to enhance the quality of NVHCP implementation in the State, added CoNE.

Dr RK Rosie, State Nodal Officer, NVHCP, NHM-Manipur, presented a slide on present status of National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme in the State while CoNE president RK Nalinikanta shared experiences on raising HCV awareness, testing & treatment inside the prison settings.

Manipur Central Jail Sajiwa Superintendent S Touthang pointed out the limitations in prison settings; Prof K Romeo of RIMS divulged on the progress and update of Modal Treatment Centre at RIMS while Sobhana Sorokhaibam of Nirvana Foundation shared her views and experiences on female drug users' community during the consultation meet.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from State Health Department, JNIMS, RIMS, RNTCP, Sajiwa Central Jail, Imphal Central Jail, MSACS and NGOs/CBOs, said CoNE.