India becoming Hepatitis B capital of the world

Chennai: According to a team of doctors of the MIOT Hospital, Chennai, India is up-and-coming as the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infected nation in the world. “Forty two millions of the Indians are suffering from the Hepatitis B Virus. The Hepatitis B Virus is responsible 60% for the liver cancer cases in India,” said, Dr. Arul Prakash, gastroenterologist, MIOT Hospital.

He also said that, the conditions of the hepatitis B Virus vaccine are in a vulnerable condition. “We found not even 1% of the school children are having HBV vaccine. This is more shocking that though the vaccines are available in the market but still they are not having vaccines in their body. The vaccine against the HBV was developed in the year 1970; we are yet to take HBV seriously,” said Prakash.

On the other hand, according to Dr. PVA Mohandas, “Almost 400 million people are chronically affected by the HBV. What is worrying is that 40% of them will end their life as the patients suffering from cirrhosis & liver cancer.” The team set free a blitz to spread a campaign on awareness program against the HBV, a disease Dr Mohandas describes as worse as HIV/AIDS.

The team has drafted cine artist Vikram as their brand ambassador for their consciousness campaign against HBV. Last Sunday saw more than 22,000 school children from 13 schools in Chennai city being given free of charge vaccination coupons against HBV. “We have set up an Advanced Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases for dispersal the message about HBV all over India,” said Dr Mohandas.

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