Our Correspondent
Imphal, June 16 (EMN): Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection among people living with HIV, injecting drug users and their spouses has become a growing public health concern in Manipur including Churachandpur district considering the current rate of detection.
This information was shared by the officials and persons dealing with HCV issue during a day-long media sensitisation workshop in Imphal on Saturday.
FIND India, a global non-profit in collaboration with YRGCARE, an NGO organised the workshop to facilitate a discussion around HCV issues in India particularly in Manipur
According to Ksh Basanta of YRGCARE, around 1866 (1468 in Imphal area and 398 in Churachandpur) turned out to be positive out of 3106 blood samples collected from Churachandpur and Imphal since the implementation of a project December last year.
The project which targets to provide services to 4000 needy individuals including IDUs in Imphal east and west and Churachandpur district, has so far provided treatment to 708 people and around 205 have completed their treatment, he said.
The Project called Headstart of Viral Hepatitis-C free treatment was launched on December 31 last year with treatment finally beginning from January this year after the State health authority signed an understanding with YRGCARE in November 2017.
Highlighting the current scenario in Manipur, Joint Director Mongjam Abhiram of Manipur state AIDS Control Society Mongjam Abhiram said out of 7603 units of blood samples collected from the state run JNIMS hospital (March 2018 to February 2019),HCV is detected among the 1.1% of blood donors while HIV reduced to just 0.2%.
Country Project Manager (HCV) ER Babu gave presentation on the entire HCV scenario in India particularly in Punjab, Delhi and Manipur.
The national viral hepatitis control program was framed and launched on July 28 last year following the country’s commitment at 69th world health assembly in the line with global commitment towards achieving sustainable development goal to combat hepatitis and achieve countrywide elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030.
