Imphal: Chief Minister N. Biren Singh Wednesday launched Model Hepatitis B Treatment Centres at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in a solemn function held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
The programme was organized by the State Health Society, National Health Mission, Government of Manipur on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day 2021 which is observed under the theme “Hepatitis Can’t-Wait”.
Speaking on the occasion, N. Biren Singh stated that treatment of Hepatitis B and its medicines would be made available free of cost at the Model Treatment Centres launched Wednesday. The opening of treatment centres would be helpful in controlling the infectious diseases in the State to a large extent, he added.
The Chief Minister further said World Hepatitis Day is observed on 28th July every year, the birth anniversary of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who developed a vaccine for the Hepatitis B virus. Stating that Viral Hepatitis, being one of the leading causes of death in the world, is recognized as a public health problem worldwide, including India, he informed that National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) was launched in 2018 with a target to eliminate the infectious disease by 2030. In Manipur, all the districts have at least one functional Viral Hepatitis treatment centre under the programme, he added.
Stressing on the status of NVHCP in the State, he informed that 29,414 people had been screened for Hepatitis B and 35,036 for Hepatitis C so far. Of the total screened, 1,519 were found positive and 1,225 are undergoing treatment. 861 had undergone complete treatment, he added.
During the programme, N. Biren Singh also distributed 10 Portable X-Ray machines and 20 Multipara Monitors consisting of one Portable X-ray machine and two Multipara Monitors each to the District Hospitals of Thoubal, Kakching, Bishnupur, Tengnoupal, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Jiribam.
In this crucial hour of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portable X-Ray machine would be useful in providing friendly services avoiding transports and extra movements of patients for X-ray examinations reducing the chances of getting infected.
Agriculture Minister Oinam Lukhoi, Chairman, MANIDCO Dr Radheshyam Yumnam, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) V. Vumlunmang, Director, Health Services Dr K. Rajo, Director, JNIMS Prof. Laishram Deben, Director, RIMS Prof. A. Santa and other officials also attended the programme among others.
