Govt should fulfil promises on Hepatitis-C: CoNE

IMPHAL | July 30

Maintaining that the state government should fulfil its promises made regarding free treatment of patients with Hepatitis-C, the Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) has appealed to the authority concerned to take up the matter in the ongoing assembly session and ensure free treatment.

A release said Manipur is one of the worst affected state by viral hepatitis particularly hepatitis C in India, and perhaps in the whole world. The true extent of the epidemic is difficult to gauge because surveillance systems for hepatitis including HCV are not in place in Manipur and, treatment demand is also not well documented, it said.

Though a state-wide data on hepatitis C infection is not available, data from independent studies carried out by researchers and healthcare professionals shows an extensively alarming prevalence of HCV in the state particularly amongst PWID, it said, adding some studies indicate prevalence rates of up to 92 percent in Imphal and 98 percent in Churachandpur district.

The prevalence rate of HCV in the state is 82 percent among IDUs.

The release further stated that taking the case as an epidemic and considering the damage Hep-C has inflicted upon the people of the state during the last many years, health minister, L Jayentakumar had announced provision for free treatment and care for hepatitis-C patients of the state during a function held on May 13.

The announcement had given a sigh of relief to those people who have been affected by the deadly disease and the people had been eagerly waiting for the day when the announcement would actually come knocking at their doors, it said.

However, till this day, the announcement of free Hep-C treatment is still a far cry since the government despite its assurance has failed to keep its promise. As such the people have been left shattered by the false promises of the state government, the release added.

It further urged the government to act as a responsible government and fulfil its commitment to the public considering the graveness of the situation and the number of people dying of the deadly disease on a daily basis.

CoNE further appealed to the MLAs of the state to discuss the matter during the ongoing state assembly session and ensure free treatment of patients with Hep-C as was promised by the health minister.