CoNE expresses concern

IMPHAL, Feb 25: With an aim to contribute to the global elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030, Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) started a month-long free health camp at its Keishamthong Hodam Leirak Sega Road office today.
As per a press release from CoNE, the campaign which was held under the theme “Healthy Liver, Healthy Life” was supported by Ahen Pharmaceuticals Pvt Limited with Dr Keisham Amarjit, MD Medicine, DM Hepatology (PGIMER Chandigarh) as consulting physician.
Speaking on the sidelines of the health camp, CoNE President RK Nalinikanta said that the primary objective of the campaign is to generate mass awareness among the marginalised community on the alarming issue of viral hepatitis in the society.
Elaborating on the present scenario of viral hepatitis across the globe, he said that though various progress have been made in the field of viral hepatitis with affordable, safe and effective treatments made available to prevent liver disease and liver cancer among people living with hepatitis B and cure those living with hepatitis C, the detection rate is quite low.
In Manipur too, though the State Government has launched the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) where free HCV and HBV testing, diagnosis and treatment has been provided, yet there is a huge gap between the number of people living with hepatitis B and C and the number of people accessing testing, treatment and diagnosis under the national program. Therefore, under such a situation, the possibility of people dying of liver cancer and cirrhosis caused by chronic viral hepatitis B & C will be very high, Nalinikanta added.
While also taking serious note over the present status/scenario of NVHCP, the CoNE President expressed serious concern over the excess time taken in providing hepatitis B and hepatitis C confirmatory test results and said that such loopholes and lengthy diagnosis process and waiting time will eventually put patients away from treatment resulting to the risk of getting liver damage, in addition to patients falling off the HCV care cascade government efforts to achieve the elimination target by 2030 will also be not realistic.
He also appealed to the authorities concerned to look into this matter and take up necessary measures to expedite the process of HCV RNA (confirmatory) and HBV DNA (confirmatory) testing time so that patients are not put away from treatment and that the global elimination target of viral hepatitis is achieved.
Altogether 30 patients turned up on the first day of the healthy camp. CoNE will continue the campaign in other districts where the prevalence rate of HCV and HBV are high including, Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Thoubal and Bishnupur, added the press release.