ITW kicks off with ‘know your HBC, HCV, HIV status’ call

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 17 : The Community Network for Em- powerment (CoNE) has kicked off International Testing Week (ITW) 2025 at its office today.
The International Testing Week (ITW) 2025 is being observed in 47 countries from November 17 to 23 under the theme “Always United: Test, Resist, Act!”
A press conference, held as part of the week-long campaign, was attended by Dr Rosie Rajkumari, State Nodal Officer, National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme; Nalinikanta Rajkumar, general secretary, CoNE; and Jimmy Arambam, executive member, CoNE.
Speaking at the press conference, Nalinikanta explained that the International Testing Week (ITW) is a worldwide campaign started by Coalition PLUS in 2020. The ITW aims to increase HBV, HCV & HIV testing and make testing easier for people who are usually far from prevention and healthcare services.
Over the past five years, ITW has grown into one of the world’s largest community-led health campaigns, with nearly 370,000 tests conducted in more than 50 countries. More than half of the people tested last year were getting tested for the first time, he said.
The campaign reminds people that knowing their HBV, HCV & HIV status—positive or negative—is essential for their own health and for protecting others. Testing is confidential and safe, and can be done in clinics, through outreach activities, he added.
Nalinikanta also emphasized CoNE’s involvement in ITW since 2021. Over the years, CoNE has screened approximately 720 people in Manipur for Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV. Among them, 301 tested positives for HCV antibodies, and 195 were confirmed HCV RNA positive and successfully linked to treatment under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, he said.
Nalinikanta also appreciated the Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) for its support in HIV testing since the past four years. While outlining the ITW 2025 activities, he shared that CoNE will continue offering screening services for HBV, HCV, and HIV, linking individuals to appropriate treatment, and providing HBV vaccinations in partnership with five private drug treatment centres.
A special camp will be held at the CoNE office on November 20, where high- risk individuals can voluntarily undergo screening of HCV and HBV and receive HBV vaccinations. The services will be available from 10 am to 2 pm, he said.
Further, CoNE will conduct awareness sessions for nursing students from three institutions. These programmes aim to enhance their understanding of viral hepatitis—its transmission, prevention, and the importance of early testing and treatment—helping prepare future healthcare professionals to effectively address these health issues, he said.
Speaking at the press conference, Dr Rosie Rajkumari emphasised that conducting HBV and HCV screening and vaccination camps in a campaign mode has proven highly effective, enabling health teams to reach a larger number of people and ensure timely linkage to treatment. She noted that under the National Health Mission, there are sufficient ASHA workers to mobilize individuals for HBV, HCV, and HIV screening.
Dr Rosie acknowledged that the week-long campaign led by CoNE—offering comprehensive services including screening, vaccination, diagnosis, and treatment through mobile outreach camps—creates an important platform for collaboration between community-based organizations and Government agencies.