Kohima: Nagaland marked World Hepatitis Day this week, pushing to crush the stigma surrounding viral liver disease. State officials gathered at the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme Hall in Kohima to coordinate efforts under the theme Let's Break It Down. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel joined the event virtually. It is a massive task.
NHM Director Dr. Theyo reported that Kohima, Dimapur, and Mon districts currently carry the heaviest burden of Hepatitis B and C. Dimapur and Kohima also show the highest positivity rates among pregnant women. Principal Director Dr. Mereninla Senlem praised the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme for expanding care from district hospitals to many Primary Health Centres since 2019. Despite these gains, she identified gaps in infrastructure and funding.
Dr. Shasinle Tep, speaking in Phek, labeled the condition a silent killer. She noted that infected individuals often remain asymptomatic while the disease gradually damages the liver. "Let's Break It Down" calls for removing barriers such as stigma, lack of awareness and unequal access to healthcare that prevent people from seeking timely diagnosis and treatment, Dr. Theyo said.
District events mirrored the state-level call to action. In Wokha, Dr. Abenthung Murry warned that Hepatitis A and E spread via contaminated water, while B and C move through blood and sexual contact. Phek officials held a mass screening at the CMO Conference Hall, where Peer Educator Mutuhu presented data covering cases from April 2025 through June 2026. Noklak will host its own observance on July 28, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the CMO Conference Hall.
Health officials across the state are now offering free mass screening and vaccination services. The Noklak outreach targets hospital staff, food handlers, and the general public, though those screened within the last year are excluded. Authorities are pushing for better public education to ensure these government services reach everyone in need.
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