SPS Apollo Hospitals Observes World Hepatitis Day, organises poster competition

Ludhiana, July 28, 2014: The Department of Gastroenterology at SPS Apollo Hospitals organised a series of awareness initiatives and a week-long free screening camp for hepatitis B & C on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day. 

More than 1500 free screenings were performed over the past week. Over 100 patients participated in an interactive patient education forum with Dr.Nirmaljeet Singh Malhi, Senior Consultant & Coordinator, Department of Gastroenterology and Dr.Harmeet Singh Saluja, Senior Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology. According to Dr.Malhi, the forum laid special emphasis on early detection, timely treatment and need for vaccination against hepatitis as an important preventive measure. The hospital also distributed free information booklets and education material to the patients. Earlier during the day, SPS Apollo Hospitals also organized a poster competition on the theme ‘Save your liver’ to raise awareness regarding hepatitis.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Malhi said, “Seeing the low awareness levels about hepatitis, it is essential to organize such awareness initiatives to educate people about hepatitis”. These low awareness levels need to be improved as the disease burden caused by hepatitis is very large and the numbers chronically infected with and annually killed by Hepatitis B & C viruses are more than HIV/AIDS, added Dr. Saluja.

The theme for the World Hepatitis Day 2014 is “Hepatitis: Think Again”. In line with this theme, SPS Apollo Hospitals organized a week long free screening camp for hepatitis B & C. More than 1500 free screenings were conducted for patients across the region. With every 1 out of 12 people across the world affected by hepatitis, it should not be ignored. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of their positive status due to lack of symptoms in the early phase. Importantly, still there is no vaccine against Hepatitis C, so prevention by adopting universal precautions and regular screening to detect early cases remains the key, added Dr. Malhi.

According to Dr. Malhi, Hepatitis B and C can be cured, if detected and properly treated at an early stage. Mostly patients waste an important opportunity in beginning of disease visiting quacks, getting desi medications with a hope of cure. Instead of cure, they ultimately land up in a situation, where nothing much can be offered to them. Timely consultation with a specialist is the key to get rid of this deadly infection, added Dr. Malhi.

According to Dr.Malhi, every year SPS Apollo Hospitals has endeavoured to use the World Hepatitis Day as a platform to step up efforts in creating awareness regarding hepatitis and to ensure reliable, safe and affordable treatment against hepatitis to be accessible to the people of Punjab.