Over 95 pc population carry virus
Treatment costs around Rs 6 lakh
SHILLONG: Meghalaya is en route to a severe viral epidemic – Hepatitis C, if proper initiative from the health sector to counter the virus is held-up, informed experts from a conglomeration of health-based Non-Government Organizations under the banner of Hep-C Coalition of Meghalaya (Hep.COM) on Thursday.
According to the statistics of the recent Hepatitis C or Hep C screening and research conducted between 2011 and 2013, 150 people out of the 169 that were screened were found to be Hep C positive.
Referring to the findings of the research, executive secretary of the Voluntary Health Organisation, Eudora Warjri, said that 95 per cent of the population is carrying the virus without knowing about it which makes it 10 times more infectious than the HIV. “Hepatitis C is curable, but the biggest hurdle is the cost factor since the treatment involves a large amount of money which makes its unaffordable for the common man or the have-nots,” said Warjri, while pointing out that out of the 150 cases which were tested positive, nobody had received any treatment.
Noticing the emerging needs and issues arising in the State regarding Hepatitis C, the Hep.COM was formed to advocate for free testing and treatment in Meghalaya.
Calling on the State government to initiate steps and mechanism to counter the virus by making the treatment affordable, Warjri said that the virus is not confined only to the high-risk group like HIV patients or drug users but has penetrated deep to the general community as well.
“We need to have solid surveillance to understand the population living with Hepatitis C virus so that it can be checked, controlled and treated with the required help from the State Government,” she added.
Citing instances of Egypt where there was a outbreak of Hepatitis C, Warjri cautioned that if the issue goes unheeded by the State government within ten years time a lot of people will fall victim to the severely infectious virus and lose their life. President of Meghalaya State Network of positive people, Molun Paul, informed that they have already lost four of their members because of Hep-C as they are getting treatment for HIV only and not Hep-C which is a co-infection, in their case the reason being the large amount of money involved in its treatment.) “The State government should take positive steps and responsibility to provide treatment as it is a viral time-bomb as termed by the World Health Organisation,” said Paul.
Once infected by Hep-C, but now recovered after undergoing treatment, member of Meghalaya Drugs Users Network, Nini, said that she had abandoned the treatment at first considering the cost involved, however she managed her treatment later with the help of her family and friends.
“The treatment involves six to seven lakh rupees. I managed to get myself treated but I feel for those who can’t,” said Nini, urging the government to do something in this regard.
Stressing on the need for government intervention, member of Meghalaya State Network of Positive People, Barry Kharmalki, said, “Health is a state subject and we have the right to health. Hep-C is curable but Meghalaya is affected as it lacks access to affordable treatment.”
“We plea to the government to take it seriously before it blows up into an epidemic,” he added.