Nagaland on Friday observed “World Hepatitis Day” at the directorate of health and family welfare, Kohima under the theme “eliminate hepatitis”.
According to DIPR report, delivering a keynote address, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) project director, Dr. Ngangshimeren, said the day was observed every year to raise awareness among the people across the world so as to make a hepatitis free world.
Dr. Ngangshimeren said the significant achievement of the World Health Organization (WHO) was that 194 countries have set a goal to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.
He informed that in line with the theme “Eliminate Hepatitis”, WHO would release new information on national responses in 28 countries including India.
Highlighting the gathering in the context of Nagaland from the perspective of NGOs, Kripa Foundation, director, Abou Mere said injecting drug user from two districts Phek and Wokha showed prevalence rates of 8.7% and 20.8% respectively.
Abou said 98 blood samples of current and ex-drug users for HBV, Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV test collected by ICMR from Kripa Foundation Drug Treatment cum Rehabilitation Centre and Kripa Drop-in Centre, reported 30.61% HCV reactive.
He said a study conducted on Hepatitis C by centre for AIDS research, Johns Hopkins University and YRG care Chennai showed that Dimapur town has 9.1% prevalence of HCV.
Abou informed that two data sources on HCV by Naga Hospital Authority of Kohima (NHAK) – MSD Pharma Company and NHAK project tested 728 individuals and 50 individuals were found to be HCV reactive. It also showed the presence of the virus among the general population was 1.8%.
Pointing out that HCV is a major threat to public health and causes extreme economic and social burden, Abou lamented that though Nagaland government was committed to ending HIV, tuberculosis and malaria it was not combating viral hepatitis C and the epidemic has continued to spread.
He claimed that HCV prevalence among people who use drugs (PUDs) was ten times higher compared to HIV prevalence and that many infected with HCV are unaware, undiagnosed and untreated posing a great risk of further transmission to the general population.
Abou stressed on the importance of dealing HCV with urgency and establish strategies and action plans to prevent further transmission of HCV. He also highlighted the importance of treatment for those who are living with HCV with the new Direct Acting Antiretroviral (DAA).
He urged the government of Nagaland to ensure increase prevention, diagnostic and treatment program for Hepatitis B and C. He further appreciated the government of Nagaland in taking the lead role in organizing this year’s World Hepatitis Day.
In his presentation on “basics of hepatitis”, NHAK, jr. specialist, Dr. K. Vanlalruati Nyuthe said approximately 160-185 million people around the world have been infected with the HCV, of which 350000-500000 die each year.
He said India has very high burden of Hepatitis C, with prevalence of between 1-2 %. and estimated that 2,88,000 news HCV infection related deaths are estimated to be high as 96,000 every year. She said the prevalence high risk population include HCV antibodies in pregnant women 0.6-1.4%
Dr. Nyuthe said Indian studies have demonstrated perinated transmission as high as 25% and India has an estimation of 1.1 million injection drug users (IDUS) and Nagaland is at 5.4-29.9 %, Manipur 56-98% and Mizoram 71%.
She said HCV transmission are through drug needles with an infected person, born to a mother who has hepatitis C (6% chances of getting transmitted from mother to child), use an infected person’s razor or toothbrush, tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools and rarely, sexual transmission of Hepatitis C is possible.
Along with the hepatitis C, she also said that hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Adult who get it for a short time and then get better is called acute hepatitis B and the virus causes a long term infection is called chronic hepatitis B.
In HBV related disease burden in India, it has been estimated that 9 million will acquire HBV infection in their lifetime and 1507000 will develop chronic HBV infection.
In a presentation on “Hepatitis C treatment protocol”, Bethel Medical Centre, physician, Dr. Kejavisa Savino, said that all patients cannot receive treatment immediately and priority should be given to patients with urgent need.
He said that treatment decisions should balance the anticipated reduction in transmission versus the likelihood of re-infection in patients whose risk of HCV transmission was high and in whom HCV treatment may result in a reduction in transmission.
Dr. Savino said the treatment goals should achieve the sustained eradication of HCV (i.e. SVR), which is defined as the persistent absence of HCV RNA in seren 3-6 months or more after completing antiviral treatment, prevent progression to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and decompensated liner disease requiring liver transplantation. He explained in detail all the protocol treatment of Hepatitis through slide show presentation.
Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Limaakum Jamir chaired the programme, Renbothung Nagaland Users Network shared treatment experience while NSACS, deputy director, Dr. Ruokuobeinuo Chielie proposed vote of thanks.
The programme was attended by health family welfare officials, NGOs, and others.