3rd phase free Hep C treatment for prison inmates held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 01 2019: In continuation of the initiative to provide free Hepatitis C treatment exclusively to prison inmates, Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) in association with Nirvana Foundation and technical assistance from BABINA Diagnostics organised the third phase of the free treatment programme at Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa today.

Altogether 18 inmates of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa were received free treatment during the programme while six inmates failed to turn up as they were found to have already been released from prison.

However, the six released individuals will be provided free treatment after conducting a follow up visit to their respective residences.

Screening and awareness camps were conducted inside Sajiwa jail in October and December 2018 wherein a total of 97 prison inmates with injecting drug users (IDUs) background and those who have been exposed to certain risks were screened and out of which 27 patients were found to be antibody reactive.

A total of 24 patients from those found reactive were confirmed to be HCV RNA positive while the confirmed patients were initiated free treatment under the medical supervision of Dr Karam Romeo, Associate Professor & Gastroenterologist, RIMS today.

Speaking on the sideline of the function, Manipur Central Jail Superintendent of Police Sokholal Touthang said that the initiative taken up CoNE in association with BABINA Diagnostics and Nirvana Foundation is indeed praiseworthy.

Earlier during the treatment initiation programme, Dr Karam Romeo, while maintaining that it is indeed a blessing for those few prison inmates that they have got the opportunity of free treatment under the initiative taken up by CoNE, urged all the patients to maintain adherence in taking the medicines as it is very important in getting cured.

Free treatment for jail inmates have been taken up by CoNE for the first time in India though such initiatives has been initially taken up in Australia and some European countries.

The initiative has also been taken up with the view to be replicated by the State Government under the National Viral hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) .

Comment