We have some good news to share on our fight against hepatitis, a silent killer whose march can be halted with a few simple steps. India accounted for 11.6 per cent of the world’s hepatitis cases in 2022, according to 2024 Global Hepatitis Report released by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Today, July 28, is World Hepatitis Day, and our various initiatives are contributing to combating a disease that can be tackled by spreading awareness, and with the right health infrastructure.
Hepatitis is a viral infection that damages the liver. It leads to chronic liver disease such as cirrhosis and even cancer. There are many different strains of the hepatitis virus; some can be countered with a vaccine, while others can be treated and managed with early detection and anti-viral medication. But the key here is awareness.
AM Foundation, our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, has built strong ties with the communities around our plants in Tamil Nadu. As part of our robust CSR initiatives, we have firmly maintained our focus on improving the health of these communities and raising sanitation levels. We have also taken some positive steps in our campaign against hepatitis.
Prevention starts with awareness, and AM Foundation has made a concerted effort to educate the communities we work with, on viral hepatitis, its impact, how to lower its incidence, and how to treat and manage the disease. Our efforts have focused on driving home the message, ‘One liver, one life’, a fact many realise only when it’s too late.
We have engaged communities in Chennai and Thoothukudi with dynamic and interactive sessions designed to highlight the prevalence of hepatitis and its complications. To make these sessions and their message memorable and to maximise impact, our staff and associates used creative methods such as puppetry, skits, street plays, focus group discussions, and poster campaigns to disseminate crucial information. These efforts were followed by meaningful discussions on various aspects of the disease.
Now these communities know, for instance, that they can vaccinate their babies against hepatitis B, protecting them against liver cancer. They are also aware of simple yet critical preventative measure such as not reusing needles and making sure that sharp instruments are sterilised at medical clinics.
AM Foundation’s drive had 780-odd beneficiaries from Chennai and Thoothukudi participate in these sessions. Their engagement and gratitude for the valuable insights they received reflect the significant impact of our work in promoting better health practices.
Viral hepatitis is known as a silent killer because a large number of cases go undetected for years and symptoms surface only when the disease is advanced. For instance, globally, hepatitis B and C account for nearly 8,000 new infections every day, most of which go undiagnosed. But when organisations work with economically disadvantaged communities at the grassroots level, they can bring hope to millions of individuals, elevate their health status, and help to eliminate a killer in our midst. Together, we can drive positive change!
