Government launches National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare  in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme to control viral hepatitis C on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day (July 28). The programme aims to combat viral hepatitis and reduce mortality and morbidity associated with it.

National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme

The programme aims at both prevention and treatment of hepatitis which is among leading causes of liver cancer, cirrhosis of liver and acute liver failure. It aims to treat minimum of 3 lakh hepatitis C cases over a period of three years for eliminating deadly condition by 2030.
The programme is part of National Health Mission. Under it, expensive antiviral for hepatitis B and C infections will be made available free of cost at all government hospitals. It will set up and upgrade facilities for diagnosis and treatment primarily of hepatitis B and C. These designated treatment centres will provide free anti-viral to hepatitis C patients. They will also provide hepatitis B vaccine to babies born to mothers carrying the virus within 24 hours of birth.

Key strategies under the Program

• Preventive and promotive interventions with focus on awareness generation.
• Safe injection practices and socio-cultural practices, sanitation and hygiene, safe drinking water supply, infection control and immunization
• Increasing access to testing and management of viral hepatitis.
• Promoting diagnosis and providing treatment support for patients of hepatitis B and C through standardized testing and management protocols with focus on treatment of hepatitis B and C.
• Co-ordination and collaboration with different Ministries and departments.
• Building capacities at national, state, district levels and sub-district level up to Primary Health Centres (PHC) and health and wellness centres to scale program till lowest level of the healthcare facility in a phased manner.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2018