45% of PWIDs and their spouses found HCV antibody reactive: Study
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 06 2019:
Considering the need to study the disease burden among People Who Inject Drugs (PWTDs) and their spouses and also realizing that majority of the Hep C infected persons belong to this risk population, CoNE initiated a HCV serological study in the State in partnership with Regional Instituteof Medical Sciences and BABINA Diagnostics in 2018 with the approval of from Research Ethics Board, RIMS.
The study, participated by 2219 people from across all districts of the State found, out that the overall prevalence of HCV infection was 43 percent.
The study report was officially released by A Radhabinod Sharma, Project Director, Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) during the "Dissemination Workshop of the Study on Viral Hepatitis C Infection among Injection Drug Users and their Partners in Manipur" held at The Classic Hotel, Imphal today, under the aegis of CoNE.
Speaking as one of the presidium members during the function, Dr Brogen Akoijam said that even though the data accumulated will be hard to represent the disease burden of the State as it represents only a selected population, yet it can be used officially as a State data for Hep C program planning.
While appreciating the role Of CoNE in bringing out the data, A Radhabinod said that being a pioneer in any field is difficult.
However, CoNE has performed a commendable work, he said.
The function was also attended by Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang, Addl Director (PH), Directorate of Health Dr RK Rosie, State Nodal Officer, National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, representatives of State Health Department, MSACS, Indian Medical Association, Manipur State Branch, NGOs and CoNE.