SVHCP, CoNE conducts HCV screening under NVHCP
Source: The Sangai Express
Bishnupur, February 24 2021:
With an aim to generate demand for testing and treatment under the National Viral Hepatitis 'Control Program (NVHCP), the State Viral Hepatitis Control Program (SVHCP), a unit of State Health Society, National Health Mission, Manipur tied up with Community Network For Empowerment (CoNE) and conducted Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) screening among the marginalized community at the conference hall of Old CMO office, Bishnupur, today, said a statement of CoNE.
The one day outreach programme for demand generation, testing and treatment of viral hepatitis through awareness and screening held under the joint aegis of SVHCP and CoNE was attended by NVHCP State Nodal Officer, Dr Rk Rosie Devi; Bishnupur district Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ningthoujam Gojendro and Bishnupur District Hospital Medical Superintendent, Laishram Binoi Singh as presidium members.
Altogether 60 people took part during the awareness session, out of which 41 of them were screened for HCV during the programme.
27 were found to be HCV antibody reactive.
The blood samples of those found reactive were further collected for HCV RNA confirmation and deposited at the Model treatment Centre (MTC), JNIMS.
Dr Rk Rosie while providing an overview of the services available under the National programme stated that apart from screening of HCV, the screening of HBV has also been started under the National programme and its treatment will also be initiated very soon.
CoNE president, Rk Nalinikanta elaborated on the importance of community involvement in mobilising high risk groups for organising camp so as to help the Government's effort to eliminate it by 2030.CMO, Dr Gojendro spoke on the rationale of conducting awareness programme prior to the conduct of screening camp while MS L Binoi spoke on the importance of generating awareness on the existence of treatment centres across the State.