National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
- Context: Following orders issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a “suo motu” proceeding, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) constituted a multi-disciplinary expert group on invasive alien species.
About the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
- An autonomous statutory body operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
- Protects India’s biological resources and traditional knowledge.
- Performs regulatory, advisory, and facilitative functions.
Origin
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- Established: 1 October 2003.
- Created under: Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- Rationale: To implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992.
- Objective: Biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS).
Key Functions
- Advises the Central Government on biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and benefit sharing.
- Recommends Biodiversity Heritage Sites to state governments under Section 37.
- Regulates approvals for foreign access, research transfer, and intellectual property rights under Sections 3, 4, and 6.
- Coordinates with 28 State Biodiversity Boards regarding commercial utilization and biodiversity research.
- Oversees approximately 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees that prepare People’s Biodiversity Registers.
- Constitutes expert groups (e.g., on invasive alien species) to address emerging biodiversity issues.
Significance
- Prevents biopiracy and ensures fair benefit-sharing with local communities.
- Helps India fulfill its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
India’s Fight Against Hepatitis
- Background: In alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global targets, India is intensifying efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. To achieve this goal, the Government of India is implementing the ‘National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme’ (NVHCP), launched in 2018.
- The programme provides free testing, diagnosis, treatment, and medicines, while also promoting awareness, preventive measures, surveillance, and improved access to healthcare services across the country.
About Hepatitis
- Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver; it affects the liver’s normal functioning. It can be caused by:
- Infection with hepatitis viruses.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Certain medications and toxic substances.
- Autoimmune disease – where the body’s immune system attacks liver cells.
- There are five main types of viral hepatitis:
- Hepatitis A (HAV)
- Hepatitis B (HBV)
- Hepatitis C (HCV)
- Hepatitis D (HDV)
- Hepatitis E (HEV)
- Among these, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C pose the greatest public health challenges. This is because, if left untreated, they can progress to chronic infections and increase the risk of liver cirrhosis (scarring of liver tissue), liver failure, and liver cancer.
National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP)
Objective
- To eliminate Hepatitis C from India by 2030.
- To reduce infections, deaths, and complications—such as cirrhosis and liver cancer—caused by Hepatitis B and C.
- To reduce health risks and mortality associated with Hepatitis A and E.
Key Goals
- To create awareness about hepatitis and promote preventive measures (especially among high-risk groups).
- To detect and treat viral hepatitis at an early stage across all levels of healthcare.
- To develop standardized treatment guidelines for hepatitis and its complications.
- To upgrade healthcare facilities for hepatitis management in all districts and train healthcare personnel.
- To collaborate with other national health programs for awareness, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
- To establish a ‘Viral Hepatitis Information and Management System’ to maintain patient records.
Key Components
- Preventive measures
- Awareness programs on hepatitis prevention.
- Hepatitis B
- Vaccination (vaccination at birth, and vaccination for high-risk groups and healthcare workers).
- Ensuring the safety of blood and blood products.
- Promoting safe injection practices and healthy community habits.
- Promoting safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene.
- Diagnosis and Treatment
- Screening pregnant women for Hepatitis B in areas with low rates of institutional deliveries.
- Providing free, phased screening, diagnosis, and treatment for Hepatitis B and C.
- Establishing partnerships with private and non-profit healthcare institutions.
- Encouraging community support for treatment adherence.
- Surveillance, Research, and Evaluation
- Strengthening disease surveillance systems.
- Conducting research through the Department of Health Research (DHR).
- Developing web-based monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Training and Capacity Building
- Providing continuous training to healthcare workers.
- Conducting training with the support of NCDC, ILBS, and state health institutions.
- Utilizing both traditional training methods and online learning platforms.
