Dera all
Contributing to techNet community after a few years, hope this may interest the viewers
India is committed. Inspite of having 2nd largest population in the world; eradicated polio more than a decade ago. Through consistent interventions raised childhood vaccination coverage. While launching Mission Indradhanush in Dec 2014, Honorable prime minister strongly emphasized that “Vaccination is not just a programme of the government, it should be a “Jan andolan” (movement of people); community has to participate whole heartedly by getting vaccinated timely and completely to keep them simply and easily protected against deadly vaccine preventable diseases. India timely controlled Covid-19, significantly averted morbidity and mortality, applauded by the world.
Realizing Hepatitis as a public health problem of extraordinary scale; conducted campaigns in 1998. India launched National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) on 28 July 2018 which focuses on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV - curable). In line with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030, India aims to accountably eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by achieving 3 indicators viz.
- 90% reduction of incidence of chronic HBV & HCV infections by 2030.
- 65% reduction in viral hepatitis B and C deaths by 2030,
- Reduction in HBV (HBsAg+) prevalence among children less than five years of age to < 0.1% by 2030.
“Globally we can prevent 2.8 million deaths by 2030 – but only if countries act now”.
Key strategies include vaccination, universal screening for early detection among the “well”, preventing mother-to-child transmission, promoting timely treatment and supporting surveillance and strengthening infrastructure”. Hepatitis A & E being water and food borne, transmitted through faeco-oral route, adequate sanitation has an important role blended with Hep-A vaccination.
In honor of Nobel Laureate Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of hepatitis B virus in 1965; following the adoption of a resolution during the 63rd World Health Assembly in May 2010 World Hepatitis Day was changed to July 28 primarily to focus for national and international awareness raising efforts.
In response to this year’s theme focusing on – "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down" calling for action to remove financial, social and systemic barriers that hinder the elimination of hepatitis and the prevention of liver cancer we assembled the nursing students, MBBS students and faculties of all departments on the afternoon of 30th July 2025. About 300 participated in the programme.
For choosing me as a resource person to address the gathering to highlight the importance of Hepatitis – buoying with dubious diction of a silent killer, almost at par with HIV-AIDS, Malaria, TB, that too at the most productive age, I wish to share a few photos and highlights with tech-net community.
Awareness was raised to accelerate action on prevention through all levels – primordial, primary, secondary and tertiary highlighting the importance of sanitation, HepB birth dose vaccination, followed by 3 doses of combined (pentavalent) vaccination to infants as per National Immunization Schedule (NIS) before the first birth day, adult vaccination of high risk groups like HCWs, IVDU’s, patients requiring repeated blood and blood product infusions, end organ diseases, screening of Antenatal cases, diagnosing based on proper history taking, clinical examination and specific investigations, treatment modalities etc. Key talking points from WHO, key indicators of elimination by 2030 and the actions needed for achieving were told. Importance of blood safety and practicing universal infection control measures to prevent parenteral transmission were highlighted. Nursing students exhibited a role play regarding HepA infection (infective hepatitis).
With best regards
Dr (Capt) Narayana Holla V; Professor Emeritus
Consultant, Vaccination Clinic; KVGMCH, Sullia