Mass awareness, early treatment stressed at World Hepatitis Day
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 28 2025: Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) general secretary Nalinikanta Rajkumar has flagged concern oyer effectiveness of efforts to prevent hepatitis, considering that around 90 per cent of the people remain unaware of their infection status.

CoNE in collaboration with Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Jmphal observed World Hepatitis Day at the Dr Kamal Hall of RIMS Department of Psychiatry on Monday.

The observance was attended by RIMS Model Treatment Centre's medical officer Dr Bijayalakshmi Thangjam, Dr RK Lenin of Department of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry head Dr S Gojendro Singh and Department of Clinical Psychology head in-charge Dr Ng Samita Devi as presidium members.

Delivering the keynote address, CoNE general secretary Nalinikanta said the observance held in collaboration with the Psychiatry Department was aimed at providing services to drug users as hepatitis B and C infections are closely related with drug users.

He stressed the need for further promoting the observance in the coming years.

He continued that around 254 million people across the world are infected with hepatitis B and 50 million with hepatitis C.In India, around 40 lakh people are infected with hepatitis B and around 8-10 lakh with hepatitis C.Unfortunately, as per a global data, around 90 per cent of the population remain unaware of their infection status, when around 1.3 million hepatitis deaths are reported per year.

The UN SDGs include the elimination of hepatitis by 2030 .

However, with the current scenario, it is uncertain whether to goal could be achieved.

Nalinikanta then said that in Manipur's context, CoNE has been making efforts since 2014.Before 2015, the medicines for hepatitis were expensive and the cure rate was low.

After 2015, however, the direct acting anti-viral drug (tablet) was introduced, which has increased the curability rate for hepatitis.

Under the national programme, anyone can avail the service at all district hospitals or RIMS or JNIMS.

However, as hepatitis B and C do no show symptoms in the early stages of infection, the rate of people coming to get tested, despite the risks, is low.

As such, CoNE had organised mobile outreach screenings wherein over 13,000 people were screened and treated, he informed.

Meanwhile, the World Hepatitis Day 2025 was also observed by RIMS, Imphal at its Banting Hall on the theme "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down", on Monday.

According to a press release by Media Cell of RIMS, the observance was attended by director Prof G Sunil Kumar Sharma, MS Prof N Sanjib Singh, Department of Psychiatry head Prof S Gojendra Singh, Department of Medicine head Dr Th Shanti Devi; and CoNE president S Irananda Singh.

In his address, Prof G Sunil emphasised the urgent need to raise awareness on hepatitis.

He highlighted that hepatitis B and C are silent, deadly diseases which are also preventable, treatable, and often curable.

While reminding all concerned that free screening and treatment services/facilities are available under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program, he urged students and healthcare professionals to break stigma, spread awareness, and work toward eliminating hepatitis by 2030.As part of the observance, a free screening and vaccination camp was conducted.

The programme was attended by the dean (Academics), heads of departments, principals of College of Nursing and Dental College, faculty members, officials, staff, and students.

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