Despite Hepatitis B being a significant public health concern, affecting over 40 million individuals, there persists a widespread lack of awareness and understanding, leading to misconceptions and stigmatisation of those affected in India, experts said here at an event.
It may be mentioned that while India is still grappling with the taboo surrounding the disease, Maldives and Sri Lanka have already achieved hepatitis B control as was announced by the World Health Organization early this year.
It said that two countries have had consistently high coverage of hepatitis B vaccine doses in infants and a low prevalence of the deadly disease, corroborated through serological surveys conducted recently in both countries.The two countries join Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand, who achieved the same feat in 2019.
In India there seems to be a long way to go, as was deliberated by the expert here at the ‘Illness to Wellness’ initiative which was organized by ASSOCHAM in collaboration with the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) to dispel myths and stigmas associated with the disease.
‘Winning Over Mothers With Hepatitis B’ (WOMB) initiative forms part of a broader national campaign aimed at generating awareness about various mind and body conditions and promoting holistic healthy living. Specifically, the WOMB initiative is focused on spreading awareness about the prevention and control of mother-to-child transmission of viral hepatitis, with a primary emphasis on Hepatitis B.
During the session, Dr. Shiv K Sarin, Director & Chancellor of ILBS, and Dr. Arti Ahuja, ex-secretary of Union Ministry of Labour and Employment expressed grave concerns about the discrimination and social stigma experienced by Hepatitis B patients.
They highlighted the critical importance of vaccination and information dissemination in combating the shame and fear surrounding the disease. Dr. Ahuja further emphasized the imperative for a shift towards preventive healthcare measures, advocating for a proactive approach to maintaining good health rather than relying solely on treatment.
Anil Rajput, Chairperson of ASSOCHAM National CSR Council, lauded the WOMB initiative for its efforts to raise awareness about the transmission of Hepatitis B from mother to child and its commitment to eliminating stigma and discrimination against affected mothers.
