India’s fight against hepatitis

The Government of India is implementing the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) with the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health concern by 2030.

• The NVHCP was launched in 2018 to strengthen the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis across the country.
• Under the programme, people affected by hepatitis are provided free screening, diagnostic services and medicines.
• The programme also focuses on improving awareness, prevention measures and access to healthcare services.
• The NVHCP covers the five major types of viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.

About Hepatitis

• Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver and can be caused by Hepatitis viruses, Excessive alcohol consumption, Certain medicines, Toxins, Autoimmune conditions.
• Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are considered the most serious public health concerns because they can develop into chronic infections.
• Chronic Hepatitis B and C infections can lead to serious complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

• Hepatitis A and E: These viruses mainly spread through contaminated food and water, particularly in conditions involving poor sanitation.
• Prevention of Hepatitis A and E includes ensuring safe drinking water, proper hygiene and improved sanitation practices.
• Hepatitis B: It is commonly transmitted from an infected mother to her child during childbirth and through exposure to infected blood, blood products and body fluids.
• Hepatitis B is vaccine-preventable, and vaccination is provided under India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
• Hepatitis C: It is mainly transmitted through exposure to infected blood, including through unsafe injections, unsafe medical procedures and sharing of needles.
• There is currently no vaccine for Hepatitis C.
• However, Hepatitis C can be cured in most patients within 12 to 24 weeks through treatment with Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) medicines.
• Hepatitis D: This infection occurs only in people who are already infected with Hepatitis B.
• Therefore, preventing Hepatitis B through vaccination also provides protection against Hepatitis D.

India-Specific Data

• According to India’s 2021 HIV Sentinel Surveillance, approximately 0.85% of tested samples were positive for Hepatitis B.
• Approximately 0.29% of tested samples were positive for Hepatitis C.
• This is equivalent to approximately one in 118 people testing positive for Hepatitis B among those tested.
• For Hepatitis C, approximately one in 345 people tested positive among those tested.

Source: DD

CLICK HERE: UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED WEEKLY TEST (ENG & HINDI)

CLICK HERE FOR GS TIMES PRAHAR UPSC GS MAINS TEST SERIES 

CLICK HERE: DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ (FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS)