The Hepatitis Coalition of Sikkim (HepCos) has found 10.39 per cent of individuals it tested recently for HCV, positive.

Hepatitis Coalition of Sikkim,Chandmari, carried out data collection survey in Gangtok and its surroundings under its Hep3 Literacy programme and tested 225 individuals and found 25 individuals with the virus. At a programme on the occassion of World Hepatitis Day (WHD) on July 28, HepCos said government should arrange appropriate testing and treatment facilities for people living with Viral Hepatitis, HIV, TB and those abusing drugs in Sikkim.

HepCos's demand coincides with Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda's launch of National Action Plan for elimination of Hepatitis by 2030, which the states will be implementing in a phased manner. Mr Prashant Sharma, a member of HepCos said, in Sikkim prevalence rate of HCV is 7 per cent as per United Nations office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). "There is no official data on record about Viral Hepatitis, here,"he said. The infection is linked to unhygienic conditions, Mr Sharma added.

All individuals tested positive were ignorant of the infection, he said. One Mahendra Tamang, shared his experience about how he got infected in France, but after treatment back in India he found himself very 'energetic and charged’. ‘I was negative that I could be healthy again but it changed after treatment," he revealed. Citing his own example, he suggested that treatment must not be avoided once the ailment is diagnosed.

'Test and Treat' the theme for WHD was focused on during the programme. Since hepatitis is also affects alcoholics,those sharing needles and getting their body parts tattooed, early diagnosis is required. If the disease continues undetected there is every possibility of getting Liver Cirrhosis, HepCos members pointed out.