National Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Programme

Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by one of the five hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. The Government of India through the National Centre for Disease Control is implementing the National Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Programme.

Objectives

• To establish laboratory network for laboratory based surveillance of viral hepatitis in different geographical locations of India.
• To ascertain the prevalence of different types of viral hepatitis in different zones of the country.
• To provide laboratory support for outbreak investigation of hepatitis through established network of laboratories.
• To develop technical material for generating awareness among healthcare providers and in the community about waterborne and blood borne hepatitis.

Targets

• Establishment of laboratory based surveillance for viral hepatitis in the country for collection of data. Development of testing and surveillance guidelines and its dissemination.

• A network of laboratories with quality testing for hepatitis markers will be established covering the entire country
• Training of manpower/health care providers in 10 regional labs including NCDC i.e. the reference lab.
• Development of IEC for providers and community.
• Establishment of baseline  data  for hepatitis to see the impact

Source: National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)