Hepatitis-C is killing more people than HIV in Manipur, says a report
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 28 2014 : The mother of all illness hepatitis-C is slowly emerging as a serious health issue in Manipur.

Prevalence of hepatitis-C among injecting drug users in Manipur is as high as 80 to 90 percent and hepatitis-C today kills more people than HIV/AIDS.

This was stated in a press conference held at the Manipur Press club today observing the World Hepatitis Day.

The World Hepatitis Day which is observed on July 28 every year was jointly organised by the Department of Health Services, Government of Manipur, Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), and pharma company Zydus Heptiza.

A February 2013 report states that there are 454 persons undergoing treatment in ART centre, JNIMS, who are co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis-C.During the same period ART centre, RIMS, reported 769 such cases.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang, Joint Director, Directorate of Health Services, Government of Manipur, informed that to look into the issue of hepatitis-C in the state, the Committee on Hepatitis-C Assessment has already been formed.

Principal Secretary Health, Government of Manipur, is the chairman of the committee.

Considering high treatment cost steps have been initiated to provide monetary assistance to people who are co-infected with HIV and hepatitis-C.The assistance will be provided irrespective of one's income group, he added.

Highlighting prevention Dr Kh Lokeshore Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, JNIMS, encourage awareness promotion through partnership and voluntary testing of hepatitis-C .

Dr T Jeeten Kumar Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, RIMS, said we still do not have a state-wide data on hepatitis and the data that we have gathered from small assessments may be the proverbial tip of the iceberg.

RK Nolinikanta, President, CoNE, stated that the campaign will also help patients from BPL families in linking up with assistance, up to 1.5 lakh, provided under the Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund.

Hepatitis-C treatment is out of reach for many and in the absence of state assistance meant specifically for hepatitis-C very few can afford the treatment which sometimes cost up to lakhs.

Theme of the World Hepatitis Day this year is 'Hepatitis: Think Again' emphasising the urgency to raise awareness of chronic hepatitis B and C and driving policy change for improvements in health outcomes of patients around the world.

Promoting prevention and treatment of Hepatitis B and C, CoNE, a state-level network of drug users, has collaborated with the Government of Manipur and Zydus Heptiza on July 10, 2014 .

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