New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday said that while the mortality rate in India due to Covid-19 is 2 to 3 percent and most cases are largely asymptomatic, it is important to create awareness about the higher risk of people with co-morbidities.
"It is important to create awareness about the higher risk of both morbidity and mortality faced by people with co-morbidities like diabetes, obesity and fatty liver, chronic liver disease," Vardhan said during an e-conclave on 'World Hepatitis Day'.
The event was organised by the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in collaboration with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to create awareness among parliamentarians.
Highlighting the issue of creating mass awareness and community mobilisation, the minister said that hepatitis has become a global problem.
"Viral hepatitis is a very common and serious disease in India but is virtually unknown to health care providers and the general public. Individuals with viral B and C hepatitis are at increased risk for liver cancer and chronic liver disease, yet an estimated 80 percent of persons with chronic viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected," Vardhan said.
The health minister said the pre-emptive and proactive measures taken under the guidance of the Prime Minister have helped control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also said Hepatitis has become a global health problem. Viral Hepatitis is a very common and serious disease in India but is virtually unknown to health care providers and the general public, Vardhan said while emphasising on the requirement to generate mass awareness and community mobilisation on the issue.
"Individuals with viral B and C hepatitis are at increased risk for liver cancer and chronic liver disease, yet an estimated 80 percent of persons with chronic viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected. The mantra to educating people is 'Talk, Test & Treat' and I appeal to all participants especially from industries, NGOs and other fraternity to support ILBS in this campaign," he was quoted as saying in the statement.
"I request all my colleagues present here to act as a Champion/Ambassador in spreading awareness about the silent epidemics of Hepatitis B and C and help remove the stigma attached to these diseases," he said.
On the contribution of ILBS, Vardhan said it is a WHO collaborative centre. It helped in the development of the National Viral Hepatitis Program which was launched on July 28, 2018, the statement said, adding that it is the largest program for Hepatitis B and C diagnosis and treatment in the world.
Vardhan also congratulated Team ILBS for their "tireless efforts" in the fight against the ongoing pandemic by testing SARS-Cov-2 samples for the last four months.
“It's indeed been a matter of pride that the country's first Plasma Bank was made functional at ILBS. Plasma warriors have been selfless contributors helping in improving Recovery Rate in India,” he added.
Inaugurating the conclave, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, " It is my pleasure that I could participate in observing World Hepatitis Day for the second year in a row. In these trying times when India along with the whole world is fighting the pandemic, it is our dedication and will that have enabled us to come together via this e conclave. We are committed to the WHO goals of elimination of Hepatitis C and of reducing the burden of hepatitis B by 2030. We, as the representatives of the people of India, have a larger responsibility of spreading awareness in people about this disease so as to make this a Jan Andolan."
WHO regional director Dr Poonam Khetrapal, Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev, AAI chairman Arvind Singh among others participated in the programme.
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