Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today said that no death has been reported in the Kashmir division so far due to Hepatitis-B.The Minister was responding to a Calling Attention Motion moved by MLC Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo.The Minister further said that the 2 deaths have been reported in Jammu division so far and the documentation process is going on in this regard to authenticate it. He said in the past, the epidemic of Hepatitis-B broke out in two villages of Kashmir Province in Kokernag area adjacent to the Warwan valley, namely Takiya Magam and Sundbrari due to unsafe injection practices.The Minister said that the whole population of this belt has been screened by the Health Department and 2,034 persons have been registered for treatment of Hepatitis-B. He said out of these persons, 928 persons have been treated with latest drug regimen free of cost. However, he added that it is likely that old cases of Warwan would have contracted the Hepatitis-B virus through unsafe practices and thus it was decided to vaccinate them as a precautionary measure.
Regarding the incidents of Hepatitis-B reported in Kishtwar, the Minister informed that a team of doctors was sent to the area on December 19, 2017 to investigate the cases of Hepatitis-B.He informed that during the investigation, the medical team observed that there were 27 cases of Hepatitis-B having rapid test positive and confirmed by ELJSA test as per the record available in NTPHC Inshan. Also there were 7 cases of Hepatitis-B who were tested positive by Rapid Test detected by Medical Team, he added.MLC Firdous Ahmad Tak also raised supplementary question and demanded proper treatment to get rid from this epidemic and also appealed to ensure the medical aid should reach out to the people through chopper to save their lives. Responding to this, the Minister ensured that proper medical team with medicare facility would be sent to the area and all the societal heads will be included to raise the awareness among masses.