Week-long campaign on World Hepatitis Day commences
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 22 2022:
Dr Khoirom Sashee Kumar, Director, Health Services, has category cally stated that public health programs undertaken by the Government will neither succeed nor meet their goals without the support of NGOs.
The statement was made by the Director today at Manipur Press Club during the inaugural function of a week-long campaign organised by Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) in connection with World Hepatitis Day 2022 which falls on July 28 .
The campaign was launched under the theme "Bringing Hepatitis care closer to you" .
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sashee Kumar said that in the past Hepatitis C was considered as a life-long incurable disease but that is no longer the case.
He also expressed hope that the week-long campaign ill successfully meet its goal of raising awareness about the disease.
RK Nalinikanta, president, CoNE, said that since 2012 CoNE has consistently observed World Hepatitis Day.
Free Hepatitis C screenings and free treatment have been arranged by CoNE since 2019 and the same facilities have been provided for Hepatitis B since last year, the president added.
He stated that Hepatitis C can be treated within 3 to 6 months by administering the necessary medication while Hepatitis B can be prevented
with a vaccine shot.
He highlighted the low testing numbers for Viral Hepatitis and urged people to get themselves tested to meet the goal of eliminating the disease by 2030 .
Touching upon the week-long campaign, he stated that the campaign will be conducted across various districts of the State and will consist of Hepatitis B screening, distributing leaflets, poster campaign, providing treatment to those who test positive and vaccines for those who test negative and a bike rally among others.