Inmates of Manipur Central Jail screened for HBV and HCV

IMPHAL, Mar 19
Inmates of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa who are from drug use background were screened for Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV & HCV) for the first time under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) today.
The programme was jointly organised by State Viral Hepatitis Control Program (SVHCP), Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa and Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE).
It may be mentioned that CoNE in association with BABINA Diagnostics and Nirvana Foundation took up the initiative of providing free HCV treatment exclusively among the prison inmates, which was the first of its kind in India, in the year 2017. The initiative was taken up in three different phases in which a total of 45 prison inmates were provided free HCV treatment, said a statement issued by CoNE.
Convinced enough by the prison intervention program initiated by CoNE earlier, the State Viral Hepatitis Control Program (SVHCP) had successfully brought the National program inside the prison settings and finally conducted HCV/HBV screening programme at Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa, today, added the statement.
Out of the 23 inmates who were screened for HCV and HBV, a total of 16 inmates, ie a 70% positivity rate was recorded. One among them was co-infected both with HCV and HBV.
The event was attended Superintendent of Prison S Touthang, NVHCP State Nodal Officer Dr RK Rosie and CoNE President RK Nalinikanta as presidium. Medical staff of Manipur Central Jail along with staff of CoNE, added the statement.
Speaking during the function, Dr RK Rosie Devi said that the screening program has been conducted for the first time under the National program inside the prison settings to bring the prison inmates who are considered to be among the high risk groups for testing of HCV and HBV and to link them to treatment under the NVHCP.
She also expressed gratitude to the SP S Touthang for providing the necessary cooperation in making the function a grand success and also to CoNE without whose help the screening program could not have been successful.
With 70% of screened persons found to be reactive of HCV and one co-infected with HCV and HBV, it is quite understandable that we need to pay more focus to this section of the society who are inside the prison. Therefore, we will be considering for taking up such programmes more often in the near future and provide necessary services to them, she added.
Dr Rosie also appealed all to come out for voluntary testing of HCV and prevent oneself from liver cirrhosis and liver cancer and also further contribute to the global target of achieving elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030.