Mamta Health Institute for Mother and Child along with its implementation partner Abhivyakti Foundation has organised a multi-stakeholder sensitisation meeting on prevention and early management of viral hepatitis B and C in Amritsar, Punjab. The event aims to provide one platform to policy makers, health care provider, civil society organisations, general population, media, community leaders, injecting drug users, school and college principals and, government officials who met on a common platform for a cause to prevent viral hepatitis in Punjab. About 200 stakeholders attended the meeting.
Dr Jai Singh, civil surgeon, Guru Nanak Medical College, Amritsar graced the occasion as the chief guest. He assured his full support in prevention and management of hepatitis B and C to all the NGOs who are working on the issue. Rajesh Singh, chief operating officer of Mamta in his opening remarks highlighted the urgency and need of preventing viral hepatitis. Shalendra Singh, president of Abhivyakti Foundation greeted the dignitaries and thanked officials for extended support.
Ruchi Sogarwal, associate director, Mamata highlighted that 240 million people globally are chronically infected with Hepatitis B virus, 150 million people chronically infected with Hepatitis C virus, and one million people die each year due to this infection. In India, there are 40 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis B and 12 million chronically infected with Hepatitis C; and as per the recent evidence Amritsar is in the emerging epidemic category.
The Government has recently launched National Programme on prevention and control of viral hepatitis in India under the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017). One of the key objectives of the national programme is to establish laboratory network for laboratory based surveillance of viral hepatitis in different geographical locations of India, and to ascertain the prevalence of different types of viral hepatitis in different zones of the country. In addition, the Government is making effort to develop technical material for generating awareness among healthcare providers about waterborne and blood borne hepatitis.
Sogarwal introduced ‘Talk Test and Treat’ initiative of Mamta, being implemented by Abhivyakti Foundation in Amritsar and Manipur Network of Positive People in Imphal.