Hepatitis C menace in border village

TARN TARAN: Silent killer Hepatitis C has spread its tentacles in the border village of Marhi Megha after more than four confirmed cases of Hepatitis C reported within a short span of time. However district epidemiologist officer denies of any confirm case yet. A team of civil surgeon office is visiting Marhi Megha on Monday to verify the claims of villagers.
Sarpanch of Marhi Megha village, situated close to Bhikiwind, Gursewak Singh told TOI on Saturday, "According my rough estimate more than 30% population of my village is suffering from Hepatitis C." Gursewak, who himself is a Hepatits C patient and is undergoing treatment, squarely blames the spread of the disease on registered medical practitioners (RMP) and drug addicts.He said nobody was willing to get himself examined for fear of expensive treatment. "People have closed their eyes and prefer taking general medicines whenever they have any problem," he said. A farmer and local politician Kiranbir Singh Mithha said on Saturday his medical tests confirmed Hepatits C. He blamed civil surgeon office for not giving the correct figures to public to save their own skin.
"We have decided to hold a private medical camp to get to know the gravity of situation. At least eight persons of village are taking expensive treatment while those who can't afford are still taking regular medicines," he said.
He said a single injection for treatment of Hepatitis C costs Rs 13,500 and they had to take around 20 such injections which is not affordable for everyone. "Three to four years ago the RMPs used to boil the syringe before injecting. I think that had led to spread of diseases besides drug addicts who still use same syringes out of ignorance," he said.District epidemiologist officer, S J Dhawan said, "We don’t have any single case of confirmed Hepatitis C." Many a times, he said, people confuse simple jaundice with Hepatitis C but the department will to hold a survey on Monday.