Free Hep-C treatment initiated to Sajiwa jail inmates

Our Bureau

IMPHAL | Sept 6

In a first of its kind in the whole of India, an initiative to provide free hepatitis C treatment exclusively among the prison inmates was taken up jointly by Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) and Nirvana Foundation (NF) in consultation with jail authorities at Manipur Central Jail Sajiwa today.

Speaking at the occasion, Sajiwa Jail SP Phanitphang said, “It is indeed a blessing for the jail inmates that a free treatment programme has been taken up by CoNE and NF for the first time probably in the entire country exclusively for the under trial (UT) prison inmates who are of drug users community. They are very fortunate to have got this opportunity since they have been suffering for a long time.”

He pointed out that that there have been no such initiatives taken up either by the government or any organisation as such for the treatment of Hep-C patients of Sajiwa Jail during his 34 years of service.

Treating physician Dr. Diamond also said that since the free treatment programme taken up by CoNE is a pilot study, there is the need for advocacy towards the state government to initiate free treatment. Awareness of Hep-C among the jail inmates and even the paramedic staff is necessary, he added.

Nirvana Foundation secretary, Sobhana Sorokhaibam informed that since Hep-C ailment among the inmates has become an alarming situation in prison settings as per the finding of the camps held on July 14 which was approximately 50 percent, the government should take up keen initiatives in this regard and provide free treatment to at least these sections of the society.

CoNE president RK. Nalinikanta who also spoke on the occasion said that CoNE have been taking up the free treatment initiative inside the jail premises to contribute towards achieving the global strategy of ‘Eliminating’ viral hepatitis by 2030. He further added that the free HCV treatment among the prison inmates is a part of the WHO core intervention components for elimination of viral hepatitis.

In Punjab, the government is providing free HCV treatment to all the people living with HCV procuring the medicine at just Rs 7000 per patients for 12 weeks therapy against the market price of around Rs 25000-30000 for 12 weeks therapy per patient, he said.

Nalinikanta questioned as to why free HCV treatment has still not become a reality in Manipur despite the state being one of the highest HCV prevalent states in India. He also said that the same initiative taken up by CoNE in the prison will continue for another two phases at the earliest.

During the camp, a total of 27 jail inmates participated. Among them, a total of 16 inmates were found to be antibody positive out of which 13 were confirmed RNA positive. Out of the 13 inmates confirmed positive, 12 of them were initiated free treatment today under the medical supervision of district TB Cell Imphal East senior medical officer Dr H Diamond Sharma.