HFT to study molecular epidemiological of Hepatitis B in Tripura

Agartala, Aug 22 (UNI) With the increasing incidences of liver related complications in Tripura, Hepatitis Foundation of Tripura (HFT), a health watchdog, will conduct a research on molecular epidemiological pattern of the Hepatitis B virus with Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).

HFT president Dr Pradip Bhowmik today said the initial study, based on secondary data and hospital sampling, had revealed that about 1.5 lakh people in Tripura are hepatitis B carrier while about 10 per cent tribal people had been harbouring the disease.

Dr Bhowmik said the survey would specify the awareness level of mothers about hepatitis B revealed that about 77 per cent pregnant mother understand the disease and evaluated the presence of hepatitis B but only six per cent of them had received vaccine.

"We are planning to develop a 'Hepatitis B&C Registry of Tripura, which will be a unique model in the country", Dr Bhowmik said adding that as part of preventive measure HFT had been pleading for mandatory hepatitis test during pregnancy and hepatitis B immunoglobuin to the child after birth.

Talking about HFT activities he informed that initially it was working only on liver disease and particularly for awareness generation against Hepatitis B and so far about 1.8 lakh people of the state including 92,000 children aged below 10 years were provided subsidised vaccine and running a subsidised liver clinic in the city.

More over, 26 HFT clinics in different locations of the state including remote pockets and on tomorrow HFT would hold it's 5th Annual State Conference in Agartala Town Hall and to organise a two day free super specialist camp in the venue with the renowned Hepatologist of Kolkata Dr Kalyan Bose, Dr Bhowmik added.

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