CMO Wokha along with theme speaker and participants at the observance of World Hepatitis Day in Wokha on July 28.
Wokha, July 30 (MExN): World Hepatitis Day was observed at the conference hall of the Chief Medical Officer’s office in Wokha on July 28 under the theme, ‘Hepatitis: Let’s Break it Down’.
According to a press release from the CMO’s office, the theme speaker, Dr Chumdemo Kikon, Medicine Specialist at District Hospital Wokha, stated that a person infected with the hepatitis virus may suffer from liver inflammation, which can lead to death. He identified viral infection as the primary cause of hepatitis and elaborated on the different types of the disease.
“Hepatitis B and C can be transmitted through blood transfusion, sexual intercourse, sharing of needles among drug users, and from a positive mother to child during childbirth,” Dr Kikon explained.
He highlighted that District Hospital Wokha provides free testing and treatment for hepatitis and noted that more than 3,000 individuals have received treatment since 2021.
“The main barriers for those suffering from this disease are the high cost of treatment and the associated stigma,” he added. Dr Kikon urged health workers to raise community awareness about the availability of free services and to encourage timely treatment to avoid serious health risks.
Earlier, in his welcome and keynote address, Dr Thungchanbemo Ezung, CMO Wokha, shared that the day is observed annually in honour of Nobel Laureate Baruch Samuel Blumberg, who discovered the Hepatitis B virus. He emphasised that community awareness and newborn vaccination are key preventive measures.
The programme was chaired by Oponthung Kinghen, Consultant at UPHC, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Lideno Tungoe, Peer Educator, NVHCP.
