Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Millions in India carry hepatitis virus



India is reeling under a serious burden of Hepatitis.
Professor SK Acharya , HoD of gastroenterology at AIIMS, said studies reported from various parts of India estimate that about 20 million Indians are Hep B carriers and about 8 to 10 million may have silent Hep C virus infection. According to him, India does not have a Hep B virus registry, or information on the disease burden.

"Their treatment is expensive. Control strategies should include mass awareness, universal guideline for immunization and hygienic handling of food and water, which can reduce the liver disease burden substantially in our country," he added. Other experts say Asia Pacific carries the highest burden of viral hepatitis, with India and China together having an estimated 123 million people chronically infected with Hepatitis B and 59 million chronically infected with Hepatitis C, accounting for almost 50% of all infections worldwide. Now, a group of leading experts has joined hands to create Coalition to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis in Asia Pacific (CEVHAP) to fight viral hepatitis across India and urge governments across Asia-Pacific to become more aware of the devastating effects of hepatitis on individuals, their families and the community at large.

Globally too, Hep B and C is a serious problem, affecting one in 12 people worldwide, claiming the lives of approximately one million every year. Co-founder of CEVHAP, Professor D S Chen from the National Taiwan University, said, "While chronic hepatitis is a silent disease with little or no symptoms for many years, it 'salso a silent disease when it comes to public awareness and government attention. This has led to the situation we find ourselves in today, where a large population with viral hepatitis does not seek medical attention or receive treatment - and this is also true for countries where the treatment is reimbursed by the government."

At present, more than half of chronic hepatitis patients live in countries with no provision for free testing, and 41% of patients live in nations where no government funding exists for the treatment of either Hep B or C.

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM Excom Prof. Rajita Chaudhuri
IIPM Prof Rajita Chaudhuri on ‘The Magic of Number 3 in Marketing’
IIPM Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri on Internet Hooliganism
GIDF Club of IIPM Lucknow Organizes Blood Donation Camp
Best Colleges for Vocational Courses in India
Social Networking Sites have become advertising shops

No comments:

Post a Comment