Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) on Monday launched a campaign-Empowering people against hepatitis: The Empathy Campaign, to aware people about the menace of viral hepatitis B and C.
The campaign was launched at Metro Bhawan by Mangu Singh, Managing Director of DMRC and Shiv Kumar Sarin, Senior Professor, Hepatology and Director, ILBS. The initiative also gained the support of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
“To aware the passengers as well as its employees, the Delhi metro will also organise such awareness and health check camps at Depots and residential colonies of employees,” said the DMRC director.
generate awareness on Hepatitis B and C across India through multi-pronged advocacy strategies for improving health care seeking behaviour with respect to Hepatitis and developing and promoting positive behaviours at individual, community and societal levels for infected individuals.
“Millions of people in India are tested positive for Hepatitis. They are denied opportunities due to the social stigma associated with this health condition. This initiative is meant to empower them and raise awareness on Hepatitis,” Shiv Kumar.
Kumar further urged the DMRC employees to undergo tests and take necessary precautions to avoid hepatitis.
“DMRC staff pledged for the cause and ILBS medical and para- medical staff conducted screening and vaccination for all the volunteers. More than 250 of the DMRC staff got screened and vaccinated for Hepatitis B and C in the health check camp that took place at Metro Bhawan, ,” said added the officials further.
The officials further added that about 60 million Indians are inflicted with Hepatitis B and C virus infections which are responsible for liver cirrhosis and cancer. Majority harboring the infection are undiagnosed and unaware of their status.
To address this problem, ILBS has undertaken a comprehensive programme.