Nagaland: NVHCP officials visit state to address growing hepatitis epidemic

Dimapur, Aug. 26 (EMN): A team of ten officials from the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) under National Health Mission, ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), led by its deputy commissioner, Dr. Sandhya Kabra, physically visited every district of Nagaland to address the growing hepatitis epidemic from August 21 to the 25^th.

With the growing threat of hepatitis C cases among high risk groups in particular besides hepatitis B morbidity, the state as well as the centre have the responsibility to address the issue and minimise the consequences of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in consonance with the SDG goal to eliminate hepatitis by 2030, stated a DIPR report.

During an exit meeting of NVHCP held in the conference hall of Hotel Vivor, Kohima, on August 25, Dr. Sandhya Kabra informed that the conceptualisation of the programme was through consultative process involving all stakeholders, technical experts and community. She explained that the programme was focused on priority groups by identifying appropriate intervention, addressing quality standardised training and quality commodities, and also integrate with other existing mechanism.

While projecting the Nagaland MIS data profile, Dr. Sandhya informed that a total of 11 districts have registered with the NVHCP-MIS portal. She also pointed out issues pertaining in viral hepatitis management units in the sub-division and district levels and suggested recommendations to overcome those issues.

Also speaking on the occasion, the secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Asangla Imti, thanked the team for their visit to the state and reaching out to all the districts to address the growing hepatitis epidemic as well as to support the progress and development of NVHCP in Nagaland. She has likened the presentation of the data profile collected from the districts by the team to a report card. She stated that the issues pointed out would be looked into on priority and also implements the recommendations suggested by the team.

While pointing out the technical problems and the shortage of manpower due to creation of new districts, she called upon the department to converge and work together for the districts and sub-divisions.

In his short speech, the principal director of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Vikato Kinimi, appreciated the team for physically visiting the state to address the hepatitis epidemic. He expressed confidence that the issues could be solved by integrating more programmes with the ministry.

He also called upon the officers, lab technicians and staff of the department to look into all the issues in order to move forward.

Report stated that the Health department has also assured full support in all the activities relating to hepatitis and make the services are available at all levels on priority. It further assured to scale up NVHCP implementation across the state by integrating with various vertical health programmes.

The programme was chaired by NVHCP state nodal officer, Dr. M Nukshisangla Jamir, while the vote of thanks was proposed by NHM mission director, Dr. Thorhusie Katiry.