Nagaland observes World Hepatitis Day with awareness drives, screenings

DIMAPUR — World Hepatitis Day 2025 was observed across Nagaland on Monday on the global theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”, with awareness programmes, free testing, and health talks aiming to dismantle barriers to prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Kripa Foundation Nagaland: Kripa Foundation Nagaland observed the day with individuals affected by drug use in Kohima, supported by the Nagaland State Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NSVHCP), National Health Mission (NHM), and Health and Family Welfare, at Kripa Foundation Drop-In Centre, D Block, Kohima.

Abou Mere, Director of the Kripa Foundation Nagaland, in his address said that World Hepatitis Day is observed each year to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and liver cancer.

According to an update, he noted the aim to combat and end viral hepatitis countrywide as a public health threat by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 target.

He said that to facilitate achieving the SDG target by 2030, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, July 28, 2018, with the provision of free diagnostics and treatment for viral hepatitis through the National Health Mission.

Also read: Dimapur records highest prevalence of hepatitis B and C in Nagaland

Dwelling on the theme, Mere said that it calls for urgent action to dismantle financial, social, and systemic barriers to eliminating hepatitis and preventing liver cancer.

Stating that many years have passed since launching the programme, but many people are still unaware that they are infected or of the services available, he added that most cases go undiagnosed until it is too late and that early diagnosis is the first step to accessing life-saving treatment and preventing liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

He further said that the health status of drug users, particularly injecting drug users in the state, is a matter of great concern, with a high disease burden of viral hepatitis and HIV infection.

He added that prevention can reduce the rate of new infections, and the availability of effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) treatment against HCV eliminates existing infection; thus, combining both prevention and treatment makes viral hepatitis B and C elimination feasible.

Speaking on the significance of the day, Kholi Kayina stated that chronic hepatitis B and C silently cause liver damage and cancer – despite being preventable, treatable, and, in the case of hepatitis C, curable.

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The Kripa Foundation has called on the state governments, policymakers, the Nagaland State Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, and the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society to provide unwavering attention to addressing viral hepatitis by scaling up harm reduction and starting implementation of the Low Dead Space Needle (LDSN) and the Long-Acting Depot Buprenorphine (LADB) as urgent and top priorities for viral hepatitis and HIV prevention interventions, to stop HIV, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer, and to save lives.

CMO Wokha: In Wokha, the day was observed at the conference hall of the Chief Medical Officer’s Office, with the keynote address presented by Dr. Thungchanbemo Ezung, CMO Wokha, who said the day is celebrated every year in honour of Nobel Laureate Baruch Samuel Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus.

According to a press release, he noted that awareness in the community and vaccination of newborns can also prevent the spread of the disease.

Theme speaker Dr. Chumdemo Kikon, medicine specialist, District Hospital Wokha, said a person with the hepatitis virus may suffer from liver inflammation leading to death.

He informed that the cause of hepatitis is a viral infection and explained the various types of hepatitis, adding that hepatitis B and C can be spread through blood transfusion, sexual intercourse, sharing of needles among drug users, and from a positive mother to child during childbirth.

Dr. Kikon mentioned that District Hospital Wokha is providing free testing and treatment to patients with hepatitis, and more than 3,000 people have been treated from 2021 to date.

Read more: Chief Minister’s Mobile Operation Theatre: Free medical camp held at CHC Bhandari

The main barriers for persons suffering from this disease are the high treatment cost and stigma, he added, and urged health workers to inform the community about the free services and the need to undergo treatment to avoid health risks.

NVHCP Longleng: The National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), Longleng, observed World Hepatitis Day at Yachem Community Health Centre (CHC), drawing participation from healthcare workers, community leaders, and members of the public.

The keynote address was given by Dr. Temsu, District Programme Officer (DPO), who highlighted the importance of awareness, early detection, and prevention of hepatitis. He said that in India, hepatitis is increasing every year and has become one of the leading causes of mortality.

He encouraged all citizens to undergo early screening for hepatitis and highlighted the free testing and treatment provided by the government. He stressed the need for community engagement and destigmatisation of the disease to enhance health-seeking behaviour.

Jubilee Memorial College: Jubilee Memorial College observed the day with an awareness-cum-screening programme for hepatitis B and C in collaboration with the Medical department, Mokokchung.

Dr Kilangwabang Pongener, senior medical officer from Dr. Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital, delivered a talk on the causes, prevention, and importance of early detection of hepatitis. Rongsen Jamir, a peer educator under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, Mokokchung, shared a heartfelt testimony about his personal experience with hepatitis, inspiring the attendees to take their health seriously.

The programme concluded with free hepatitis screening for students and staff, leaving a strong impact on raising awareness and promoting preventive health.