Hepatitis-B vaccination rate 'remarkably low' in State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 30 2024: Though it is a well-known fact that prevention is better than cure, the vaccination coverage of Hepatitis-B remains remarkably low in the State.

Hepatitis-B is a contagious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis-B Virus (HBV) .

In 2018, the Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) conducted a survey to detect the prevalence of Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) .

The survey detected 47% and 4.5% positivity rate for Hepatitis-C and Hepatitis B respectively among the PWID.

Speaking to The Sangai Express in connection with this survey, RK Nalinikanta, president, CoNE said that instead of being dismissive over the low prevalence of Hepatitis-B, people should remember that 95% of the PWID are susceptible to the infection.

He urged the public to cooperate with the efforts undertaken by the National Virus Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) to prevent and control Hepatitis-B and end viral hepatitis by 2030, The CoNE president added that for PWID, who come under high risk groups, CoNE will always provide Hepatitis-B testing facilities.

After screening, those who test positive for Hepatitis-B are given a way to receive the necessary treatment under NVHCP and vaccines are administered to those who test negative until they receive the third and last vaccine dose.

Meanwhile, Dr Rosie Rajkumari, State Nodal Officer, NVHCP shared that NVHCP is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2018 and implemented in 2019.Testing and treatment for Hepatitis-C in Manipur under the program began on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, 2019 while the same for Hepatitis-B started on July 28, 2021 .

She added that there are treatment centres for Hepatitis-B in every district, namely, Sawombung Primary Health Centre for Imphal East district and Wangoi Community Health Centre for Imphal West where screening tests and medications are available.

Aside from these treatment centres, model treatment centres set up in 2019 at RIMS and JNIMS Hospital provide facilities for viral load tests, informed Dr Rosie Rajkumari.

Similar facilities for conducting viral load tests (which is used to determine if a person needs to start or change treatment) are available at the district hospitals in Thoubal, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Jiribam as well as at Krsnaa Diagnostics.

The NVHCP SNO went on to add that people can get any information about where to get treatment or tests from the State Viral Hepatitis Management Unit at the Directorate of Health Services.

Under NVHCP, Hepatitis-B medicines for high-risk groups are provided free of cost while efforts are underway to provide the same arrangement for health care providers.

Stating that this benefit is not available for the general public, she urged people to get the three-dose vaccine for Hepatitis-fl which costs approximately Rs 300.Stressing on the highly contagious nature of the infection, she said it can spread through an infected person's blood or other bodily fluids and advocated for the use of necessary protection and precautions.

Additionally, she stated that Hepatitis-B can be transmitted from infected mother to child during birth.

If the child is infected, it has a 95% chance of developing chronic Hepatitis B.Nowadays, all expectant mothers are tested for Hepatitis-B and all newborns are administered vaccines.

If an expectant mother tests positive for Hepatitis B, then Hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) is administered to the unborn baby under NVHCP to protect it from getting infected.

This injectable medication, which contains antibodies against HBV, is 95-98% effective in protecting the baby.

Stating that altogether 1200-1300 people are currently receiving treatment for Hepatitis-B in the State under NVHCP, the SNO urged people to get screened to determine their Hepatitis-B status.

Dr Rosie Rajkumari has made a widespread appeal to the people to get vaccinated reasoning that it will prevent and provide long-term protection from Hepatitis-B .

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