By Firstdespatch Desk Jul 28, 2026
Agartala, July 28 (FD) Stressing that hepatitis remains a major public health challenge despite advances in medical science, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday urged people to increase awareness, encourage vaccination, and adopt scientific treatment to eliminate the disease from the state. He reiterated the government's commitment to building a hepatitis-free Tripura within the next four years while inaugurating the World Hepatitis Day observance programme at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala.
The programme was jointly organised by the Hepatitis Foundation of Tripura, the National Health Mission (NHM), and the Department of Health & Family Welfare.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said World Hepatitis Day is observed every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Baruch Blumberg, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who discovered the Hepatitis-B virus and developed the Hepatitis-B vaccine. Describing hepatitis as a "silent killer," he noted that nearly 300 million people across the globe are currently affected by Hepatitis B and C viruses, making awareness and timely medical intervention essential.
Dr. Saha said the primary objective of the state government is to ensure better health for every citizen. He emphasised that increasing public awareness, expanding screening facilities, and promoting vaccination are the most effective measures to prevent the spread of hepatitis. He added that only scientific treatment and informed public participation can successfully combat the disease.
Sharing his message on the occasion, the Chief Minister said hepatitis continues to be a significant public health challenge, but its spread can be effectively controlled through greater awareness, timely preventive measures, and proper treatment. He appealed to citizens to encourage healthy lifestyles, remove social stigma and misconceptions surrounding hepatitis, and work collectively towards building a healthy, informed, and hepatitis-free Tripura.
Dr. Saha highlighted that the Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has undertaken several initiatives to eliminate hepatitis nationwide, while the Tripura Government is implementing multiple programmes to strengthen prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services across the state.
The Chief Minister also underlined the need for additional training for healthcare workers serving in rural and urban areas so that they can effectively spread awareness and provide better healthcare services. He assured that the state government would continue extending all necessary support to achieve the goal of eliminating hepatitis.
Speaking on the state's healthcare development, Dr. Saha said Tripura has significantly strengthened its medical infrastructure over the past few years. The number of internal referrals from sub-divisions to district hospitals and from district hospitals to the state's primary referral institutions has reduced considerably due to improved healthcare facilities. He added that the state now has nine super-speciality blocks, while advanced medical services are being provided at GB Pant Hospital.
The Chief Minister further announced that a new Government Homeopathy Medical College will be established in the state and administrative work for the proposed Medical University will begin soon. He also mentioned that child and adolescent vaccination programmes continue to receive priority, while the "Sustha Shoishab Sustha Koishore" initiative has achieved 100 percent success. He said all eligible beneficiaries in the state are receiving the benefits of the Jan Arogya Yojana.
Calling for greater public participation, Dr. Saha urged people from every section of society to actively support vaccination drives and awareness campaigns. He also praised the Hepatitis Foundation of Tripura for its sustained efforts in spreading awareness about the disease.
Health Secretary Kiran Gitte, speaking as the guest of honour, said the Health Department is expanding vaccination camps across the state as part of its commitment to making Tripura hepatitis-free. Director of the Tripura Hepatitis Foundation Dr. Pradip Bhowmik delivered an informative address on hepatitis, while NHM Mission Director Saju Vaheed A and Health Director Dr. Debashree Debbarma also attended the programme as guests of honour.
During the event, the Chief Minister released the Hepatitis Foundation of Tripura's newsletter and distributed prizes to winners of an essay competition organised to mark World Hepatitis Day. FD SB