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Bhubaneswar, July 28: Hepatitis is a life-threatening condition leading to high morbidity and, of late, has assumed alarming proportions in India. On World Hepatitis Day, Friday, different hospitals and organisations organised various programmes in the city to raise awareness about the disease. Bharat Scout and Guide organised a rally in which where more than 300 scouts and guides from different schools participated. The rally started from Ram Mandir and weaved its way to Master Canteen square. The participants walked with pamphlets and posters bearing information on hepatatis. A programme was organised at Soochana Bhawan where doctors from various hospitals were present along with Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Narayan Jena and Bhubaneswar (North) MLA Priyadarshi Mishra. The doctors in their addresses pointed to lack of awareness as the main reason behind the rise in hepatitis cases. Commonly caused by a viral infection, hepatitis has other possible causes including autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol. Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease that occurs when the body produces antibodies against the liver tissue. Meanwhile, a health camp for patients was organised by Sparsh Hospital where many patients availed of free check-up. Dr Sarat Chandra Panigrahi said awareness and education regarding the disease is the best way to keep it at bay. “We are planning a vacci
nation camp throughout the year to educate people who have the disease,” he added. A walkathon was also organised by Apollo Hospitals which culminated on the hospital premises at 9 am after covering almost 4 km and spanning 2 hours through major intersections of the city. It started at 7am from the hospital premises with the objective of spreading the message of this year’s theme – Eliminate Hepatitis. The walkathon was flagged off by Ananta Narayan Jena in the presence of Sanjaya Kumar Sethi (corporator, ward-12, Bhubaneswar), and officials of Apollo Hospitals. Jena said that as hepatitis assumes alarming proportions across the state during monsoon, health experts have warned people to be watchful of not just what they eat and drink, but also take sufficient
care of their liver. Sudhir M Diggikar, regional CEO, Apollo Hospitals, announced the launch of health packages aimed at identifying early symptoms of the disease at a nominal cost for all patients willing to get screened. Medicos from AIIMS and members of the literary and cultural committee of the hospital will organise a street play at Unit-2 Market Building, July 30. Dr Binayak Deb said it was not only a moral obligation but also a social responsibility to do our bit to promote awareness about the risk factors, causes and symptoms of the disease and how it could be diagnosed and managed. “Since actions speak louder than words, we plan to promote awareness by directly interacting with the people in the form a street play,” he added.
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