Correspondent
IMPHAL, July 28
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]long with 194 countries of the world, Manipur observed the World Hepatitis Day at Lamyanba Shanglen hall in Imphal today. Hepatitis Forum of Manipur (HepFom) and Himalaya Drugs Company organized the function which was held under the theme ‘Think Again’. It may be noted the day is being observed since 2008.
Speaking on the occasion, Joint Director of Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) Ahbiram Mongjam said about 1.5 million of people have lost their live due to hepatitis C and more than 500 million people are living with the killer disease. So far the government of India has not taken up any preventive and support programme. Hep-C was listed among the eight killer diseases found across the globe. Around 11,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS used to visit Anti-retroviral Treatment (ART) centres out of 21,000 PLHIV registered in the ART centres. Co-infection of Hep-C and HIV are more dangerous, he added. “We need to give more pressure to the state government for the inclusion of Hep-C under the Manipur illness Scheme as the treatment of this disease is very expensive,” he added.President of Hepfom RK Tiken, Joint Secretary Deepak and Finance Secretary Subash who shared the dais along with Joint Director MACS. Terming the Hep-C coinfection as ‘viral time bomb’, most of the speakers during the occasion expressed that the government should involved in the intervention activities in fighting the disease. Earlier a public rally which was planned has been postponed in the last minute due to the present prevailing situation in the state, according to President of HepFom RK Tiken. “We’ll hold the rally on some other day”,he added.
Two crores worth drugs disposed: Customs Division Imphal,the Central Revenue Complex, Lamphelpat today disposed off seized narcotic drugs worth more than Rs 2 crores. Sources said that the drugs which was disposed off today include 41 packages of compress block of Ganja, 1,20,960 SP Capsule, 58,500 Actilab-T tablet,1,000 Phensedyle syrup (100 ml), 1,170 Lupicof syrup, 2,48,000 Actilite tablet, 70.020 Kilogram of Coldbrom Tablets, Actifed Tablets,Certified Tablets, Reloc Tablets, Action Cold, Min Cold, Ractified Tablets, Coldbrom (Loose Tablets marked ASMA Pax) and 550 gram of Heroin.The total value of the narcotics drugs disposed off today is estimated to be more than Rs 2 crores in the international market.
