J&K Government Pledges Rs 7.5 Crore for Tackling Spread of Hepatitis-C

More than Rs 7.5 crore of financial support has been pledged by the Jammu and Kashmir government in fighting the spread of hepatitis C in villages of Anantnag district. Haj and Auqaf Minister Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, who is also the legislator from Kokernag assembly constituency where some cases have been reported, said the state cabinet, which met here with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the chair, sanctioned the funds in the first phase to tackle the disease's prevalence in Takiya-Magam and Sonanbrari areas.

As many as 30 percent of the people in these areas were suffering from the infectious disease that affects the liver, he said.

Caused by the hepatitis-C virus, chronic infection of hepatitis-C can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis which generally becomes apparent after many years.

In untreated cases, cirrhosis leads to liver failure which is often fatal.

Source-IANS