United Way of Mumbai and AmeriCares India commemorate World Hepatitis Day

On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, NGOs in Mumbai – United Way of Mumbai and AmeriCares India Foundation, came forward to educate and spread awareness among slum communities in Mumbai. Rallies and street plays were organised at the Korba Mitha Nagar slum in Wadala, Mogarapada slum in Andheri and Ayodhya Nagar slum in Chembur.

The community-based awareness in Wadala, Chembur and Andheri with Green Ribbon Brigadiers is part of project PAHAL being implemented by United Way of Mumbai, AmeriCares India Foundation and National Liver Foundation with support from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation.

The rallies were organised simultaneously in all three places – 160 student volunteers across six city colleges – St Andrew’s College – Andheri, Niranjandas Machitdas College – Andheri, Guru Nanak College – Wadala, SIWS College – Wadala Sydenham College – Chembur, Jai Hind and Rajiv Gandhi College – Chembur. Students carried placards, posters and banners as a way to spread awareness about hepatitis; with the theme this year being ‘Hepatitis. Know it. Confront it.…’. They also carried out door-to-door interactions in the communities to educate the community members with basic information on hepatitis infections.

Jayanti Shukla, Executive Director, United Way of Mumbai said, “World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to focus on specific actions including raising awareness on all forms of viral hepatitis as well as confronting the stigma and discrimination associated with these diseases, among others. The participation at this event today is encouraging and we hope this is a step in the right direction to plan and implement more knowledge-based preventive approaches in India.”

Dr Swati Jha, Program Director, AmeriCares India Foundation added, “Together hepatitis B and C affect 500 million and kill approximately one million people every year. Through such initiatives we are trying in spread awareness among the people and with a goal of helping them make better decisions regarding their health.”

EP News Bureau – Mumbai