Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17: A three-day training-cum-workshop for Specialists, Medical Officers and Laboratory Technicians on laboratory diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis under National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme began today at Super Specialty Hospital, Jammu.
The workshop was inaugurated by Bhupinder Kumar, Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K in presence of Dr Sunanda Raina, Principal, Government Medical College, Jammu.
On the occasion, the Mission Director said that Viral Hepatitis is recognized as a public health problem worldwide including India and our country is committed to eliminate the Viral Hepatitis- C by 2030 and reduce the morbidity and mortality due to Hepatitis-B in line with Sustainable Development Goals.
He said that, the 3 day training programme will emphasize on techniques and ways to screen general population with a special focus on high risk groups like Intravenous drug users, people getting injections from informal providers, newborns of carrier mothers, migrants & truckers, persons on hemodialysis, first degree relatives of persons affected with viral hepatitis and Health Care Workers who are more prone to get Hepatitis infection.
Speaking on the oaccasion, Dr Sunanda Raina said, “India has one fifth of world’s population, it possibly accounts for a large proportion of worldwide Viral Hepatitis burden. It is expected that 15-25% of chronic Hepatitis- B cases suffer from Cirrhosis, Liver Cancer and die pre-maturely. Also horizontal transfusion from mother to child of Hepatitis-B virus is the most common mode of transmission. Hence, Hepatitis – B vaccine has been incorporated in Universal Immunisation Programme and the first dose is given at birth. All the Health Care Workers shall also be immunized against Hepatitis-B under NVHCP in coming months”.
Dr Mohd Shafi Koka, State Nodal Officer, National Health Mission gave a presentation on overview of the programme and said that effective anti-viral drugs against Hepatitis-C have been made available at Government Medical Colleges at Jammu, Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kathua, Doda, Rajouri and also at District Hospital Pulwama.
Dr Shashi Sharma, HoD, Microbiology, GMC Jammu and Dr Monika Sharma, Microbiologist, GMC Jammu also spoke on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
