Dimapur, June 4 (EMN): While lauding the efforts made by the Health Department for tying up with the World Bank in formulating the Nagaland Health Project (NHP), Access to Rights and Knowledge (ARK) Foundation has urged the project initiatives to explore possibilities for working on prevention and treatment for Hepatitis C in the State adding “unless there is a start, new infection will happen rampantly and those already infected will continue to die.”
It said Hepatitis C has emerged as a huge matter of concern as per some scientific research where districts like Phek and Wokha projected a worrisome prevalence rate of 8.7% and 20.8 % respectively, while some independent survey reports conducted among Injection Drug Users (IDUs) showed a much higher prevalence rate. Report also pointed out that the prevailing scenario is not only a matter of concern for the risk populations such as the IDUs and hemophilic group of people but also shown high prevalence rate at the general society.
In this regard, ARK Foundation has requested NHP to make a breakthrough with their technical expertise and existing human and financial resources and start formulating some plans adding “unless there is a start, new infection will happen rampantly and those already infected will continue to die.”
In terms of treatment, ARK Foundation informed that better, friendlier and more treatment responsive drugs are available in the form of Directly Acting Antivirals (DAAs). These drugs in combination with Sofosbuvir has shown cure rate of more than 95 percent and that the price are far low as compared to the earlier standard of treatment with Pegylated Interferon.
A press release issued by president of ARK Foundation, Ketho Angami, requested the Health Department/ NHP to expedite these options and initiate Hepatitis C prevention and treatment programme.
It also stated that some pharmaceutical companies are providing free antibody test with nominal charges for viral load and genotyping test particularly in Kohima and Dimapur districts. Along with the test and diagnosis programmes, treatment is also provided at the cost of Rs 8,500 per month which sums up to Rs 25,500 for three months course of either Sofosbuvir/ Daclatasvir or Sofosbuvir/ Ledipasvir. It added that another DAA called Velpatasvir has hit the market although the price is costlier comparatively.
Meanwhile, ARK foundation informed all those requiring treatment to be aware of the available provisions and advised them not to pay more than the prescribed amount.
