Hepatitis C free from Punjab:An Initiative by Fortis

Tue, Jul 28, 2015 at 5:13 PM

Free screening and investigations of patients

Ludhiana, 28^th July, 2015; (Shalu Arora//Punjab Screen):

Fortis Hospital Ludhiana organized a Press Conference on Hepatitis C Free Punjab.  While Speaking on the occasion Mr.Vivan Singh Gill, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital, Ludhiana said, “Hepatitis C is a viral infection of liver, which causes permanent liver damage (cirrhosis) and liver cancer ultimately leading to death of patient. This disease is like slow poison destroying the liver.”

Giving More Information Dr.Nitin Shanker Behl, SENIOR CONSULTANT AND HEAD GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY FORTIS HOSPITAL, said “Patients with disease present with fatigue and lack of appetite initially and later on fluid in abdomen, blood in vomiting, swelling of feet and kidney failure. Patients towards late phase of disease require liver transplant. At present there is no vaccine available for this disease in world”

He Said, “In Punjab this disease is rampant. Prevalence of this disease in India is approximately 2 % but in Punjab this is around 6 %, which is highest in India.

Several districts have been badly hit by this infection and there are areas around Ludhiana where this disease can be present in upto 25 % of population. This virus is a blood borne infection, which spreads, by injectable drug abuse, infected blood, needles, blades and tattooing.   

Dr.Pankaj Sihag, Senior Consultant, Gastrointestinal Surgery said that, “Initially the treatment of this disease was based on injectable drugs, which were costly and associated with considerable side effects. This year oral drugs have become available for this disease which have achieved > 90 % success rate in eradicating the virus without any major side effects.” 

Dr.Ankush Mehta, Medical Superintendent said, “On this world hepatitis day (28 July), FORTIS HOSPITAL LUDHIANA (under guidance of Dr. Nitin Behl) is launching an initiative to make Punjab free of hepatitis C infection.  This initiative involves in adopting villages and areas where this infection is rampant. This will be done with involvement of local sarpanches and NGOs.”  We will be providing:

1.      Monthly visits and free consultations by liver specialist

2.      Free screening and investigations of patients

3.      Oral antiviral drugs at lowest cost

4.   Weekly counselor visit who will educate patients and their families regarding disease and ways to prevent its spread

5.      Educational material for public to educate them on this disease 

In this manner we will be able to eradicate the infection from these areas over the period of 6 months and adopting more and more areas to make them hepatitis free.