State PCS - West Bengal (WBCS)

• 29 Jul 2025

Hepatitis B Elimination Efforts in West Bengal

Why in News? 

On World Hepatitis Day, health officials expressed optimism that Bengal, with a 0.07% Hepatitis B prevalence among children under 5, is on track to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 0.1% target and eliminate the disease by 2030. 

• The state is currently the only one to report such detailed data on Hepatitis B prevalence in children, with the national estimate pegged at 1.14%. 

Key Points 

About Hepatitis 

• About:  Viral hepatitis is an infection that causes liver inflammation, damage, and may lead to liver cancer. 
  • It is typically caused by hepatotropic viruses, including A, B, C, D, and E,  although other viruses like the varicella virus can also lead to the disease. 
    • SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19 may injure the liver too. 
    • Additional causes encompass drug and alcohol misuse, liver fat accumulation (fatty liver hepatitis), or an autoimmune response where the body produces antibodies targeting the liver (autoimmune hepatitis). 

 

• Global Challenge: It is a major global public health challenge, ranking as one of the leading causes of death, with an estimated 1.3 million deaths in 2022, according to the WHO report. 
  • The top ten countries account for almost two-thirds of the global burden of viral hepatitis B and C combined. 
  • In 2022, China, India, and Indonesia alone accounted for 50% of the global hepatitis B burden, while China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, and the USA represented 50% of the global hepatitis C burden. 
• World Hepatitis Day: The world observes World Hepatitis Day on 28th July every year to promote global awareness of hepatitis prevention, early detection, and effective treatment options. 

West Bengal’s Health Department’s Intervention Measures 

• In recent years, the Bengal health department has implemented several key measures aimed at early intervention and prevention of Hepatitis B. These include: 
  • Screening of Pregnant Women: Ensuring that all pregnant mothers attending government health facilities are screened for Hepatitis B to prevent mother-to-child transmission. 
  • Vaccination at Birth: Administering the Hepatitis B vaccine to newborns at birth to protect them from the virus. 
  • Immunoglobulin for Newborns: Providing immunoglobulin to babies born to mothers who are Hepatitis B carriers to prevent the virus from being transmitted. 
  • Project for Triple Elimination: Bengal has taken a pioneering step by launching a project for the triple elimination of Hepatitis, syphilis, and HIV. 
  • Liver Foundation West Bengal: On World Hepatitis Day, the Liver Foundation West Bengal leveraged digital platforms to raise awareness about viral Hepatitis, reaching out to students across 23 schools in the state. 

Divya Deshmukh Becomes Women’s World Cup Champion

Why in News? 

19-year-old Divya Deshmukh made history by winning the FIDE Women's World Cup, defeating veteran Koneru Humpy in a tiebreaker, and earning the grandmaster title despite starting the tournament without any norms. 

Key Points 

• Grandmaster: Divya is now India's 88th Grandmaster and the fourth woman to achieve this title, joining Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Humpy Koneru. 
  • She defeated top players such as the World No. 6 from China, Zhu Jiner, the Indian veteran Harika Dronavalli, and former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi before facing Humpy in the final. 
  • Starting as an International Master, her victory qualifies her to become India's fourth female Grandmaster, bypassing traditional norms under a special FIDE regulation. 
• Previous Achievements: Last year, she was crowned the World Junior Champion in the girls' category. 
  • Additionally, she played an important role in helping India win the gold medal at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where she also earned an individual gold. 
• Future Prospects: She is set to be a formidable player in future competitions, including the Candidates Tournament, where the top eight players battle for a chance to challenge the World Champion. 
• Historic Finale: The presence of both finalists from India reflects the country's rising influence in women's chess, paralleling the success of Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa in the open section, and marking India's growing presence alongside the long-standing dominance of Chinese and Russian players.