Login With Google
Action plan for free treatment of hepatitis patients
Why is it in the news?
- The Union government launched a national programme aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis in Mumbai.
- The viral hepatitis is recognized as an important public health problem across the world
More in the news
- Viral hepatitis is a global public health problem that kills nearly 2.72 lakh people annually.
- In India, it is estimated that there are 4 crore people suffering from Hepatitis B and 0.6-1.2 crore people suffering from Hepatitis C.
- It is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by five known hepatitis viruses — A, B,C,D and E.
- Of these, B and C are known to cause 96% mortality.
- Hepatitis B and C are transmitted by unsafe injection practices, infected blood and blood products, sexual transmission and from mother to child.
About Action Plan:
- It provides a strategic framework, based on which the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme was framed and launched in July 2018 under National Health Mission by the Health Ministry.
- The aim of the programme is to combat hepatitis and achieve countrywide elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030.
- In India, Hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in the Universal Immunization Programme almost a decade ago.
- The comprehensive action plan will focus on curbing mother-to-child transmission by improving the coverage of hepatitis B injection given at birth.
- According to the action plan, one model hepatitis treatment centre will be established in each State in a government institution in the first year.
- This programme is also in line with our global commitment towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3. India has affirmed this commitment at the 69th World Health Assembly.
Source
The Hindu.