State must arrest death caused by curable hepatitis ‘C’ virus

Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, JULY 28

HAVING Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) prevalence rate at 1.6 per cent, Nagaland today observed the World Hepatitis Day with a call for the state government to make it a health priority.
Dwelling on the theme of observation ‘Think Again’ in the state capital, President of Indian Drug Users Forum and Director Kripa Foundation Nagaland, Abou Mere said in spite of having 1.6 per cent Hepatitis C prevalence rate in Nagaland for more than a decade now, nothing substantial has been done.
He lamented that the State Government of Nagaland is yet to provide treatment or improve services relating to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
He said with the high cost of Pegylated interferon, people who have HCV and co-infection (HIV with HCV) are not able to afford treatment because of which people are dying from complications related to a curable HCV rather than HIV, which is currently an incurable disease.
Asking if HCV is not the health priority of Nagaland state government, Mere said the state government should initiate programs for prevention, care and treatment for HCV in Nagaland with prior important and urgency in order to prevent the complications of HCV-related liver disease, including fibrosis, cirrhosis, cancer and death.
No one should die with a treatable/curable disease due to unable to afford treatment or gets infection, which is preventable, he said.
Speaking on the occasion as the guest of honour, Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker, Chotisuh Sazo said that in order to have the support of the government, a clear data of how many are infected and needing treatment is required and also how and where they can be treated with the cost involved.
He asserted that the Government can frame a policy for such treatment and care but it should be supported with evidence based studies.
He also suggested that appropriate policy in reference to Hepatitis C be framed and placed before the Government through proper channel for suitable action.
World Hepatitis Day is an annual event that provides international focus for patient groups and people living with viral hepatitis. It is an opportunity to raise awareness and influence real change in disease prevention and access to testing and treatment.
HCV is a virus that can cause liver disease, and if untreated, can be fatal. Chronic HCV is a “silent killer” as usually people do not have any symptoms until they have serious liver damage. In India, Hep-C is a ‘hidden epidemic’.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 12 million people chronically infected with Hep-C in India, the majority of whom do not know their status.
The observation was jointly organised by Hepatitis Coalition of Nagaland (HepCoN), Nagaland Users’ Network and Kripa Foundation. Compered by Nagaland Branch Manager FPAI Vincent Belho, Gwabinlo Seb shared a report of HepCoN, Project Coordinator UNODC Delhi Kunal Kishore while Dr. C. Wathsutho Nyuthe, Naga Hospital Authority Kohima shared on the topic ‘Burden of HCV in Nagaland’.