By R Lester Makang
UKHRUL, February 11: At a time when the rate of prevalence of Hep C infection cases remains alarmingly high in Ukhrul district, the emergence of growing cases of coinfection of Hep C with HIV has become a greater concern to health workers here.
In an interaction with this IFP correspondent at his office today, nodal officer, ART Centre, Ukhrul District Hospital Dr. Diamond Sharma said that cases of Hep C infection in the district are continuing to be alarming and so are HIV cases but the more worrying aspect is the growing rate at which patients are found infected with both diseases at the same time.
He continued that with the introduction of ART treatment, chance of prolonged survival of HIV patients is much improved today but despite this many such patients have died not due to HIV but because of coinfection with Hep C.
“Which is why we at the ART centre here have come to focus on coinfection of the two diseases which is responsible for the continued cases of death among the patients, ” he disclosed adding that while the accurate data is yet to be worked out, it is believed that the percentage of coinfection among patients might be somewhere in between 35 to 40 in the district.
Expressing apprehension, he maintained that injection drug use remains largely responsible for transmission of the disease in the district or elsewhere.
On being asked about the best way to prevent mass transmission of the viral illness, he advocated that adequate awareness be created among the general public because in the absence of vaccine for Hep C, it is the only available mechanism to protect people from the disease.
He further informed that in view of the alarming situation here, an Ukhrul based NGO DOULOS under the guise of the State Epitimology department and Imphal based CONE, conducted a five-day Hep C screening camp here in October last year where 41 persons tested positive out of a total of 88 screened.
“Even then it is still upto the individual to go treatment of the illness since the cost of treatment is very high and only very few can afford the charge. ”
Dr. Diamond then bemoaned the lack of any initiative from the government side toward containing the cureless viral disease, while also informing that CONE is currently pressing the government for introduction of reimbursement policy for all such patients irrespective of their categories.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/coinfection-of-hiv-and-hep-c-a-graver-concern-to-health-workers-in-ukhrul/