Kohima, July 28 (DIPR): Nagaland observed World Hepatitis Day on July 28 at Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima under the theme ‘Eliminate Hepatitis’.
Project Director, NSACS, Dr. Ngangshimeren in his keynote address said the day is celebrated with an aim to raise awareness among the people across the world and make a hepatitis free world. All countries, he said, have envisioned a goal of eliminating viral Hepatitis by 2030. In support of the theme ‘Eliminate Hepatitis’, WHO will release new information on national responses in 28 countries which include India, Dr. Ngangshimeren added.
Director, Kripa Foundation, Abou Mere gave a brief note on NGO’s perspective. He mentioned that in the context of Nagaland, injecting drug users from two districts - Phek and Wokha - showed Hepatitis prevalence rates of 8.7% and 20.8% respectively. The ICMR collected 98 blood samples of current and ex-drug users for Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV test from Kripa Foundation Drug Treatment cum Rehabilitation Centre and Kripa Drop-in Centre and reported 30.61% HCV reactive. A study conducted on Hepatitis C by centre for AIDS research, Johns Hopkins University and YRG Care, Chennai showed that Dimapur Town has 9.1% prevalence of HCV. Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK)-MSD Pharma Company and NHAK project tested 728 individuals and 50 individuals were found to be HCV reactive. It also showed the presence of the virus among the general population was 1.8%.
He pointed out that HCV is a major threat to public health and causes extreme economic and social burden. Therefore, he appealed to acknowledge the importance of dealing with HCV with urgency and establish strategies and action plans to prevent further transmission of HCV and treatment of those who are living with HCV with the new Direct Acting Antiretroviral (DAA). Mere urged the Government of Nagaland to ensure increase in prevention, diagnostic and treatment programs for Hepatitis B and C.
Jr. Specialist, NHAK, Dr. K. Vanlalruati Nyuthe in her presentation on Basics of Hepatitis said Hepatitis C virus discovered in 1989 as a small RNA virus were major cause of post transfusion hepatitis prior to 1992. It causes chronic liver disease, Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Approximately 160-185 million people around the world have been infected with the HCV, of which 350000-500000 die each year. India has very high burden of Hepatitis C, and its prevalence is between 1-2 %. It has been estimated that 288000 new HCV infection occurred in India and HCV related deaths are estimated to be as high as 96,000 every year.
She also highlighted the prevalence in high risk population where pregnant women has 0.6-1.4% of HCV antibodies. Perinated transmission of HCV has also been seen to occur in approximately 5.8% among HCVRNA-positive antenatal women, it was added. Few Indian studies have demonstrated perinatal transmission as high as 25%.
The presentation noted that India has an estimated 1.1 million injection drug users (IDUS) and Nagaland was placed at 5.4-29.9 percent. HCV is transmitted through sharing drug needles with an infected person, being born to a mother who has hepatitis C (6% chances of getting transmitted from mother to child), using an infected person’s razor or toothbrush, tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools, and rarely sexual transmission of Hepatitis C is possible. Hepatitis B, she added, is a virus that infects the liver. In India, it has been estimated that 9 million will acquire HBV infection in their lifetime and 1507000 will develop chronic HBV infection.
Physician, Bethel Medical Centre, Dr. Kejavisa Savino highlighting on ‘Hepatitis C treatment protocol’ said that all patients cannot receive treatment immediately. Priority should be given to those with the most urgent need. He said that treatment decisions should balance the anticipated reduction in transmission versus the likelihood of re-infection in patients whose risk of HCV transmission is high and in whom HCV treatment may result in a reduction in transmission. He added that treatment goals are to achieve sustained eradication of HCV (i.e SVR), which is defined as the persistent absence of HCV RNA in seren 3-6 months or more after completing antiviral treatment. The second goal, he said, was to prevent progression to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and decompensated liver disease requiring liver transplantation.
“With the help of the department and the media this disease can be prevented and will help the people to know more of this disease and knowledge of Hepatitis disease,” Dr. Savino said.
