THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DELHI

Good morning to all! Today, we have gathered to observe the 25th Hepatitis Day function being organized as a joint initiative by the ILBS and the Directorate of Family Welfare, Govt. of Delhi.  It gives me satisfaction to participate in this immensely important awareness campaign of national relevance which Govt. of Delhi has led for the last 24 years.

1. 3rd of December has been declared as the official Hepatitis Day for the state of Delhi. Ever since its inauguration in 2010, ILBS has been advocating for elimination of Hepatitis from the state, and the country through various programmes and on different forums.
2. I have been told that in India, approximately 2 crores people are living with HBV infection and around 70 lakh people are living with HCV infection of which, 90% are not even aware that they are infected. Each year, around 1.5 lakh people die because of hepatitis, making viral hepatitis a major public health challenge that requires an urgent and dedicated response with appropriate prevention strategies.
3. In the past few years, Hepatitis has become a global health problem and is one of the deceases that kills most people in the world. According to WHO estimates, every 30 second a person dies in the world due to hepatitis B, and the number of deaths due to this infection in one day is more than the deaths due to HIV in one year.
4. Viral Hepatitis is a very common and serious disease in India, but its public health threat remains virtually unknown to health care providers, general people, at-risk populations, and policymakers.  Individuals with viral hepatitis B and C are at increased risk for liver cancer and chronic liver disease, yet an estimated 70 percent of persons with chronic viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected.
5. It is heartening that having flagged the causes, perils and prevention of Hepatitis way back in 90s, Dr. Sarin has since championed the cause and launched a mass awareness drive in the shape of ‘Yellow Ribbon’ Campaign in the country. The color “Yellow” was chosen as it represents the color of Jaundice – the most ubiquitous and conspicuous symptom of liver disease. Today is the silver jubilee of the Yellow Ribbon Campaign. Congratulations to one and all.
6. It was way back in 2001, that Dr Sarin along with his colleagues initiated the need for inclusion of Hepatitis B immunization in the universal immunization programme and we have not looked back since then. Delhi was the first state in India to launch the hepatitis B vaccination as part of the universal vaccination program. Subsequently, ILBS which is a WHO collaborative center, has been instrumental in developing the National Viral Hepatitis Control program which was launched in 2018 by the Govt of India.
7. The theme of the 25th Yellow Ribbon Campaign is “Hepatitis Elimination – A social responsibility”.  The message is clear. It is now the responsibility of the society to join hands and help in the elimination of the menace of hepatitis B. All the citizens of not only Delhi, but India should join hands.  We are committed to create a success story in the field of Hepatitis B by spreading awareness for prevention and cure of the disease amongst the people in Delhi, by motivating them to get immunized against the disease.
8. Patients living with hepatitis suffer from a huge social stigma. Often they are stigmatized and marginalized not only at work places but in the day to day life in the society. This year’s theme is a reminder to all of us to give these people same status as any one of us. I was witness to the efforts made by ILBS through the EMPATHY (Empowering People Against Hepatitis) campaign, organized on July 28, this year in Parliament. Everyone present there, pledged to work for the cause and to give people living with hepatitis their rightful status in the society.
9. I have been informed that the organizers are using various means for imparting knowledge including poster competitions and family counseling sessions. Various cartoon and poster exhibitions have been organized for public awareness wherein, school students, nurses, health-care workers and medical students display colorful and imaginative posters describing the modes of transmission, prevention and treatment of hepatitis.
10. I hope, when you leave from this place today, you would be wiser about Hepatitis prevention. The onus is now on you to take up this noble cause. Let the message spread like the wild fire. Ask your parents whether they are immunized, whether your siblings are immunized and if not, then educate your parents of the need for seeking earliest possible vaccination, so that, we can hope for a Hepatitis Free India by 2030. It is myth that immunization is only for newborns and children. Hepatitis B vaccine can be and should be taken at any age to protect the individual.
11. I complement Dr. S.K. Sarin and the team ILBS for their efforts and yeomen service and reaffirm our commitment to continue with the government’s unflinching support to the Yellow Ribbon campaign.

Jai Hind !