SRINAGAR: Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), J&K, Nazim Zai Khan, today inaugurated the Screening Camp for Hepatitis B & C at JLNM, Hospital, here to commemorate “World Hepatitis Day -2024”.
Speaking on the occasion, MD, NHM, and J&K gave a brief description of the severity of viral hepatitis and how it has become a major Public Health challenge which needs to be redressed at all levels. The MD also gave a brief description of the Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B&C in the UT of J&K and showed his concern as J&K has a high Hepatitis-C Seroprevalence/Seropositivity i.e. 34.89% in IDUs (Induced drug users) as compared to National Average (33.41%).
The MD stressed upon the medical fraternity to tackle this grave public health challenge of such huge magnitude with utmost dedication and generate mass awareness among the high-risk categories like blood/organ donors/recipients, patients on haemodialysis, Pregnant Women, prisoners, Induced drug users (IDUs) etc.
The MD also spoke about the importance of strengthening regulatory bodies like the National Level/ State Level/District Level for the implementation of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP). He assured that a regular supply chain of medicines and testing materials will be maintained to ensure proper treatment to the patients.
Various beneficiaries were also screened by the Department of Microbiology, JLNM, Hospital Srinagar during the camp.
Similar kinds of screening camps were organised by the NHM in collaboration with the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir across various districts of J&K.