Imphal, December 23: The attention of the Manipur State Control Society has been drawn to the urgent need for inclusion of issues related to treatment of HIV-Hepatitis C co-infection among HIV positive patients in the State AIDS policy.

Participating in the programme on �Indian People�s Tribunal on Stigma and Discrimination towards People living with HIV/AIDS�, which is underway since yesterday at the conference hall of Institute of Co-operative Management at Lamphelpat here today, programme co-ordinator of Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+) Ng Ratan pointed out that the issue related to HIV-Hepatitis C co-infection is the biggest problem being faced by people living with HIV/AIDS.

However, there has been no facilities for treatment of such patients in the State AIDS policy till today, he said while contending that just as provisions for treatment of HIV-TB co-infection has been included in the State AIDS Policy, similar provisions should also be included for treatment of HIV-Hepatitis C co-infection.

He informed that in accordance to a survey conducted by Indian Council for Medical Research at Churachandpur in 2000-01, out of every 100 HIV positive patients, 98 of them suffer from HIV-Hepatitis C co-infection.

Hepatitis C affects the liver of the patient and the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) drugs being used as life saving drug by the HIV positive people also affects the liver.

So co-infection of HIV and Hepatitis C is a serious health problem being faced by the HIV positive patients, he explained.

In the absence of proper data and documentation on the extent of HIV-Hepatitis co-infection in Manipur, this aspect of the health problem of the HIV/AIDS infected/affected population in the whole of North East region including Manipur has not been able to bring to the knowledge of NACO and India Government, he said, while stressing on proper documentation in this regard.

Secretary of Social Awareness Service Organisation RK Tiken who also participated in the programme spoke on the stigma and discrimination being faced by the drug abusers.

Programme Executive of DDK Imphal RK Robindro spoke on the role of media in prevention of spreading HIV/AIDS, Advocate of Gauhati High Court Samarjit Hawaibam on Stigma and Discrimination and its legal implication, MSM Project co-ordinator of SASO RK Sarat Singh spoke on risky behaviour of MSM in Manipur and Outreach worker of Project Orchid of SASO and Thokchom Ongbi Asha Devi on the topic of �Stigma and Discrimination: women and children�.

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