Hepatitis Awareness Week: Online hepatitis immunisation campaign launched

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Delhi government's health department in collaboration with the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) on Monday launched an online campaign to spread awareness about hepatitis, a serious liver disease.

The web-campaign which has been started as part of the Hepatitis Awareness Week will facilitate participation of all stakeholders in state, district, health agencies, women and child department from their respective work places.

"The idea is information sharing within the medical community and also making the health staff at Delhi hospitals, primary health care centres, maternity homes and field workers like Ashas and medical officers aware about viral hepatitis, their modes of transmission and possible preventive measures. Also, blood safety and cleanliness are other preventive aspects. These people in turn can educate families and people that they come across in their day-to-day life," D K Dewan, Director, Health and Family Welfare, said.

Hepatitis Awareness Week is observed in the first week of December every year.

ILBS' Director S K Sarin advised all health care workers to get vaccinated and ensure immunisation against the disease.

He presented the long-term goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2080 through a multi-pronged approach including 100 percent immunisation coverage of infants with 4 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine starting at birth.

(With PTI inputs)