In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday witnessed a patient-led drive to combat one of the biggest global health concerns of current times, viral hepatitis. The State saw the launch of the Madhya Pradesh State Chapter by the National liver Foundation, where patients engaged themselves with practitioners, policy-makers and the public to create awareness about the severity of the disease calling for urgent action.
According to recent data released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Madhya Pradesh has seen a four-fold increase in the number of viral hepatitis cases with a total of 11,783 cases in 2013 up from 3,851 in 2011. The Bhopal-based Gandhi Medical College (GMC) released a study in 2013 stating that 'barely 1 per cent of patients diagnosed with hepatitis in Bhopal, actually sought treatment'.
Executive Director of Global Health Advocates (GHA) India Dr Bobby John said, "The widespread lethal effect of this disease can be calculated from estimation that Hepatitis B and C are prevalent in between 25 and 40 million people in India, which is very much higher than the occurrence of HIV or any cancer."The founder-trustee of the National liver Foundation (NlF) and Head of the Department of Hepatology, Global Hospitals, Mumbai, Dr Samir Shah said, "As many as 12 million people may be chronically infected in India and most are unaware of it. The disease, often being termed as a silent killer, has so far not attracted the attention of the policy-makers."
According to Dr. RK Jain, Professor, Gandhi Medical College, "Prevention is pivotal. Vaccination for Hepatitis B is widely available and one should take it. Secondly, investigation of asymptomatic diagnosis during blood donation is important, and a follow-up with the person (whose blood is infected) is highly required."This was reiterated with an experience shared by a patient, Bhavna Visaria, who had donated blood to a blood bank nearly 15 times. Only on the 16th time was she informed that her blood is infected with the HCV (Hepatitis C virus). Hence, blood banks definitely require a more robust follow-up mechanism for people with infected blood.
