‘Ignorance main reason why hepatitis cases go unreported’

Dr Samir R Shah,founder trustee of NLF,said,“Most hepatitis cases are discovered during blood donation camps. Ignorance is the main reason for so many unreported cases.”

Both,Hepatitis A and E are waterborne diseases.

However,BMC has not taken any steps to either create awareness or chalk out future policies. Deputy executive health officer Dr Mangala Gomare said the civic body’s monsoon camps do not have any facility to screen patients for Hepatitis.

In 2012-13,Ward E (Byculla) recorded 211cases — the highest in the city,followed by G South ward (Prabhadevi,Worli and Elphinstone) with 202 cases. In ward R north,Dahisar (West),only 9 cases were reported.

In response to Byculla’s figures,Gomare said as several periphery hospitals are situated in South Mumbai,chances of detection are more likely. “With more hospitals,more can avail of the screening facility,which might be one of the reasons for Byculla recording the highest number of cases,”

she said.

An industrialist said,“I have been suffering from Hepatitis B for 25 years. I will have to remain on medication for the rest of my life. I am lucky to have survived. It is essential to create awareness and that is why I have joined this campaign.”

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com