Hepatitis B vaccination of healthcare worker being carried out during the World Hepatitis Day at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima on July 28. (Morung Photo)
• Nagaland recorded 2.4% Hepatitis B and 4.01% Hepatitis C prevalence in 2024–25
• Dimapur records highest Hepatitis B prevalence among pregnant women
Morung Express News
Kohima | July 28
In the year 2024-25, the prevalence of Hepatitis B in Nagaland stood at 2.4%, while hepatitis C infection was recorded at 4.01% and 0.8% B infection among pregnant women.
Sharing this data during the observation of World Hepatitis Day, Dr. Avile Zao, Mission Director, National Health Mission informed that Dimapur district reported the highest prevalence rates for both Hepatitis B &C as well as Hepatitis B among pregnant women suggesting that ‘cosmopolitan population’ could be the factor to the high prevalence rate in the district.
Briefly highlighting the various types of Hepatitis, causes, symptoms and prevention, Dr. Zao informed that screening of Hepatitis B & C is available in all district hospitals along with free treatment.
Hepatitis B immunoglobin for infants born to Hep B positive mothers is provided free of cost by National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), she informed and urged that all pregnant women should undergo Hep B testing during ANC, and that vaccination is provided free of cost through routine immunisation for all infants.
Dr. Mereninla Senlem, Principal Director, H&FW in her keynote address said the commemoration of the day is an opportunity to step up efforts on hepatitis while encouraging actions and engagements by individuals, partners and the public, and also highlight the need for greater response towards the cause.
Explaining the significance of the theme ‘Hepatitis: Let’s break it down,’ Dr. Senlem said it calls to dismantle barriers such as financial, social and systematic obstacles that prevent the elimination of Hepatitis.
The NVHCP, she said, was launched in 2019 in the state and since then, NHM has been continuously working towards the SDG elimination goals of viral hepatitis by 2030.
Emphasising on the need to act now to expand access, integrate care and end hepatitis, Dr. Senlem asserted that all activities related to viral hepatitis has to scale up, which, she stated is also a mandate of the NHM.
Following the brief programme held at the conference hall of the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Hep B vaccination of healthcare worker was carried out.
Most cases go undiagnosed until it’s too late
Despite the launching of the NVHCP in the state, Abou Mere, Director of Kripa Foundation said “most cases go undiagnosed until it’s too late” and that many people are still not aware that they are infected or the services available.
He was speaking at the observation of the day organised by Kripa Foundation with substance users in Kohima, supported by the Nagaland State Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NSVHCP), National Health Mission (NHM), Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland at Kripa Foundation Drop-In Centre, D Block Kohima.
While emphasising that early diagnosis is the first step to accessing life-saving treatment and preventing liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, Mere said, awareness on viral Hepatitis, testing, treatment and services available should reach to all in need, till the most peripheral level, especially for those at higher risk as it is critical towards eliminating hepatitis.
Highlighting the health status of drug users, particularly that of injecting drug users in our state, as a matter of great concern having high disease burden of viral hepatitis and HIV infection, Mere called on the state government, policy makers, NVHCP and Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) to provide unwavering attention in addressing viral hepatitis, by scaling up harm reduction and start implementing the Low Dead Space Needle (LDSN) and the Long Acting Depot Buprenorphine (LADB), as an urgent and top priority for Viral Hepatitis and HIV prevention intervention and stop HIV, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer and to save lives
He also encouraged all drug users and at risk individuals for early testing and treatment for Hepatitis C to prevent serious liver damage, complications and improve long term health outcome.
Speaking on the significance of the day, Kholi Kayina said chronic hepatitis B and C silently cause liver damage and cancer despite them being preventable, treatable, and, in the case of hepatitis C, curable.
To this end, he emphasised on the need to simplify, scale up, and integrate hepatitis services such as vaccination, safe injection practices, harm reduction and especially testing and treatment into national health systems.
