Hepatitis Eradication
What is hepatitis?
- The hepatitis A and E viruses cause sporadic illnesses and acute viral hepatitis outbreaks.
- The hepatitis B and C viruses are both well known for causing chronic hepatitis and are mainly spread through parental contact.
- Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that harms the liver and is spread by unscreened blood transfusions, injectable medications, and inappropriate injection procedures.
- Contrary to hepatitis B, hepatitis C cannot be transmitted through sexual contact, and there is no known vaccination to prevent it.
What conclusions does the WHO report draw?
- The WHO states that although hepatitis may be prevented and treated, it nevertheless poses a severe risk to public health throughout the world including in Southeast Asia.
- More people die from viral hepatitis in Southeast Asia each year than from malaria and HIV combined, at 4 lakh.
- The WHO considers these high figures unacceptable because hepatitis B can be effectively treated with a vaccine and medication, and hepatitis C can be cured in more than 90% of cases.
Hepatitis infection is how common in India?
- Viral hepatitis which is spread by blood and water is a serious public health issue in India.
- Six times as many persons in India have chronic hepatitis B and C infections as do people with HIV/AIDS. The main disease and cause of early mortality in this nation is viral hepatitis.
- Less than 1% of people with chronic hepatitis have access to therapy, and 95% are not aware that they have the condition.
What steps must be taken?
- The National Programme for Control of Viral Hepatitis for 2018–19, with a budget of Rs. 600 crore over the following three years, intends to screen the vulnerable population and provide free treatment where necessary.
- The National Hepatitis Policy will increase the surveillance and detection of blood- and water-borne hepatitis virus infections throughout several geographic areas.
- With the availability of safe, potable water, early detection, immunization, and the restriction of incorrect use of disposable needles and syringes, treatment-resistant viral hepatitis can be eradicated.
- Viral hepatitis will no longer exist in India by 2030 as a result of inexpensive, convenient access to recently discovered treatments.
