ES Reporter 

NAHARLAGUN, Jan 6: Health Minister Alo Libang launched the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) in Arunachal Pradesh at the model treatment centre of Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) near here on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, Libang informed that the NVHCP has been launched by the ministry of health & family welfare, Government of India. He said it is an integrated initiative for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis in the country.
“The launch of NVHCP, today in the state is to cope up with the aim of the central government to eradicate viral hepatitis by the year 2030,” he said, while requesting the public to come forward for the hepatitis test.
Libang said, though the target is 2030, the state government will make efforts to achieve the target before the deadline as Arunachal Pradesh is less populated in comparison to othe states.
He also informed that vaccine for COVID-19 will be delivered to the state within the month of January.
Highlighting more on the launch, state surveillance officer-ISDP Dr. L Jampa said that the programme could not be launched earlier due to the Coronavirus pandemic. But at the same time the department has been working on hepatitis despite the COVID situation last year. “We have put around six patients under hepatitis-c treatment. The treatment is in process and within months, we will have the results,” Dr. Jampa said. Dr. Jampa informed that there are five viruses; A, B, C, D and E. He said the virus A and E are water borne. Whereas, the virus B, C and D are blood borne, just like the HIV and the transmission is also relatively similar to it.

“In regards to the programme, the health department has also held capacity building of doctors and other technical teams. The microbiology, lab technicians and the data operators have been properly trained to get forward with the NVHCP.
It was also informed that the entire cost of drugs, testing and treatment under NVHCP will be free. No one is immune from the virus, thus there is no age barrier for being infected. 
Speaking as the guest of honour of the function, P. Parthiban, Secretary (Health & FW), said that the capacity building of Medical Officers, Lab technicians, Pharmacists under the programme will be ensured within three months and another Model Treatment Center for Hepatitis patients will be made operational at BPGH Pasighat.
Dr Moji Jini, Director TRIHMS, informed the gathering that the prevalence of Hepatitis B in Arunachal Pradesh was one of the highest in the country and that the launch of NVHCP will be especially beneficial for the State for screening, diagnosis, and management of hepatitis patients. The launching programme was attended by Dr. Hage Ambing, CMS-TRIHMS along with doctors and nurses and officers from the DHS.
C.R Khampa, Mission Director-NHM assured full support to the programme under the umbrella of NHM. The NVHCP programme is expected to cover the entire state upto the grass root level during this year.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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