Lack of hepatitis awareness makes detection hard: Docs
According to the data provided by the minister of state in the ministry of health and family welfare, Anupriya Patel at the Rajya Sabha in March this year, Jharkhand has reported 41 deaths due to hepatitis-B in the last five financial years. While, the highest deaths, 15 were reported in FY 2020-21, two deaths recorded in FY 2019-20 and FY 2023-24, seven in FY 2021-22, 11 in FY 2022-23 and four deaths have been reported in FY 2024-25 (till Dec 2024).
Health experts believe the actual number could be higher, as many cases go unreported or undetected, particularly in remote areas.
Dr Uma Sinha, former nodal officer of National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NHVCP) in Jharkhand, who retired last month, said despite the availability of treatment centres across all the districts in the state, people in rural areas are often unaware of the symptoms and severity of the disease and they go undetected.
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"NHVCP's aim is to combat hepatitis and achieve countrywide elimination of hepatitis C by 2030, but in Jharkhand due to low screening rate particularly in the rural areas there is an absence of clear picture about this communicable disease. But it is sure that the cases are not decreasing in Jharkhand as screening rate is very poor in rural pockets. Another possible reason could be that the zero dose usually provided to the newborn within 24 hours of birth, are not being given due to the absence of vaccines in rural health centres," Sinha added.
Jharkhand has a total of 27 treatment centres in the state, Sinha said.
In Ranchi's Rims, around 3,000 patients of hepatitis B and around 500 hepatitis C are currently undergoing treatment.
Dr Rashmi Sinha, associate professor at the medicine department in RIMS said that the hospital has witnessed an increased number of hepatitis B patients in recent times. "Screening rate is satisfactory in urban health centres like Rims which has led to an improved detection rate," Sinha added.
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