WHD observance: CoNE organises poster campaign
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 27 2023: The Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) conducted a poster campaign carrying the message of the benefits of early testing, vaccination, diagnosis and treatment of Hepatitis B and C on July 27 in Imphal.

The poster campaign which was held as part of the World Hepatitis Day (WHD) 2023 observance was conducted in different departments of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) including Model Treatment Centres (MTCs), Out Patient Departments (OPDs) and ART centres.

This year the World Hepatitis Day will be launched with the call to action 'We're not waiting' .

WHD observance: CoNE organises poster campaign

On the occasion, CoNE targets to accelerate the fight against viral hepatitis, one of the most deadly and neglected diseases and health crises � one that is claiming a life every 30 seconds.

Speaking at the side-lines of the poster campaign, CoNE president RK Nalinikanta informed that the poster campaign has been conducted by CoNE to raise awareness on viral hepatitis so that people get access to Hepatitis B and C testing, vaccination, diagnosis and treated available under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program which has been implemented in the State since 2019 with the opening of two model treatment centres (MTCs) at RIMS and JNIMS and treatment centres in all the 16 districts of the State.

Citing a new research presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress by the Center for Disease Analysis (CDA) Foundation, RK Nalinikanta said that the research found that Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are highly oncogenic leading to cancers in multiple organs and sites.

The report also said that Hepatitis B and C infected individuals have a similar or significantly higher risk of developing cancer than someone who actively smokes one pack of cigarettes per day.

It concludes that HBV and HCV should be considered as cancer causing infections and international guidelines should be reconsidered accordingly, he added.

Informing that Hepatitis B and C infections are silent epidemics and are cancer causing, Nalinikanta said that since infected individuals don't show any symptoms until it is too late, most infections go unnoticed.

Therefore, it is important to understand the high risk of cancer associated with Hepatitis B and C infection and get patients linked to care under the national programme.

Since treatment can reduce the risk of cancer by 85% or more, Nalinikanta appealed to all to come out and avail the services under the national programme, get tested and treated early.

The poster campaign will continue in other districts targeting private hospitals and clinics.