MUMBAI, May 12:
Bollywood superstar Amit-abh Bachchan was today appointed as Goodwill Ambas-sador for Hepatitis by the World Health Organisation in South-East Asia region to boost awareness and intensify action to arrest the Hepatitis epidemic.
“I am absolutely committed to the cause of Hepatitis. As a person living with Hepatitis B, I know the pain and sufferings that Hepatitis causes. No one should ever suffer from viral Hepatitis,” the actor said.
Announcing Amitabh’s association with WHO, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia, said this historic association is expected to help strengthen WHO’s efforts in reducing the high numbers of premature deaths and illnesses from viral hepatitis which is not only causing hardships to individuals and families, but also impacting health and development across the Region. Though preventable, viral hepatitis kills 410,000 people in the region every year, mostly people in their productive years. Nearly 90 million people suffer from chronic liver disease that is driving rates of liver cancer and cirrhosis in the region, according to the latest WHO estimates released this year. “Amitabh’s voice is one that is listened to by people across the country, regardless of cultural, social or economic background and can make real change possible. We have witnessed this in polio eradication,” Union Health Minister JP Nadda said in a video message while congratulating the actor and WHO for the momentous partnership. As WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis in the Region, the Big B will lend his voice and support to public awareness programmes that aim to scale up preventive measures and advocate for early diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis to reduce the disease burden.
Among preventive measures, hepatitis B vaccination a dose within 24 hours of birth followed by three doses in the first six months of life, as per the national immunisation schedule of countries in the Region, provides protection and prevents mother-to-child transmission of the disease. Safe practices related to injections, blood transfusions and other procedures can prevent the spread of hepatitis B and C while clean water and hygienic food can reduce the risk of hepatitis A and E infection. (PTI)
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