Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a National Viral Hepatitis control programme. The aim of the programme is to eliminate deadly Hepatitis by 2030. The programme was launched in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Speaking about the programme, Union health Minister Mr. JP Nadda said that the programme has an aim to combat viral hepatitis, reduction of mortality and morbidity associated with it.
Terming it a historic day, he said the programme has been developed in association with all stakeholders who have worked at the grass-root level and has been launched in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 2030.
Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said under the programme, a national level framework has been developed which would show results at the ground level.
According to the SDG, diseases likes AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases should be eliminated by 2030. Viral hepatitis was included as a focus area in the health related goal Goal 3.3 with world leaders pledging to fight and eliminate it by 2030.
What else about National Viral Hepatitis Control programme?
The ministry also launched a postal stamp. It was launched to spread awareness about the disease among people of India. Instructions for operating for hepatitis, including diagnosis and management guidelines for clinicians and national laboratory guidelines were also launched.
The programme also has some other provisions, One major one includes that pregnant women would be checked free of cost at diagnostic centres.
Mr. S Venkatesh, DGHS, said that in India has eleven percent of total cases of Hepatitis in the world which means nearly 4 crore Indians suffer from chronic Hepatitis.
