Poster campaign marks WHD observance
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 27 2023:
Considering the importance to create awareness among the masses on issues surrounding viral hepatitis in-spite of the chaos in the state, Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) conducted a poster campaign regarding benefits of early testing, vaccination, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B and C, on Thursday.
In a release, CoNE informed that the poster campaign 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.
The World Hepatitis Day is observed every year on July 28.This year the World Hepatitis Day will be launched with the call to action 'We're not waiting'.
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 on the sidelines of the campaign, CoNE president RK Nalinikanta informed that CoNE aims create awareness on viral hepatitis so that people get access to Hepatitis B and C testing, vaccination, diagnosis and treatment available under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) being implemented in the state since 2019 by opening two model treatment centres (MTCs) at RIMS and JNIMS and treatment centres in all the 16 districts.
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, Nalinikanta saidthat 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.
A recent survey by World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) also found that 42 percent of people globally are unaware that one of the leading causes of liver cancer is viral hepatitis.
Nearly three quarters (74 percent) of those surveyed said knowing hepatitis causes liver cancer means they are more likely to get tested and over four-fifth (82 percent) were aware of the importance of timely vaccination.
Globally, over 350 million people live with hepatitis B or C, causing more than 1,1 million dead each year.
By 2040, deaths from viral hepatitis are expected to exceed* mortality from HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined, 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 percent or more, Nalinikanta appealed all to come out and avail the services under the national programme, get tested and treated early.
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