World Health Organization (WHO)has appointed legendary Hindi Cinema Actor Amitabh Bachchan as the new Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis in South East Asia Region. Announcing the new appointment of Legendary Actor in Mumbai,India the Director of South East Asia Region for WHO Dr.Poonam Kethrapal Singh has stated last Friday(12)that with the appointment of Amitabh Bachchan WHO is expected to help strengthen the WHO's efforts in reducing the high numbers of premature deaths and illnesses from viral Hepatitis which is not only causing hardships to individuals and families but also impacting health and development across the region.
Through preventive viral Hepatitis kills 410,000 in the south east aria region every year ,mostly people in their productive years.Nearly 90 million people in the region suffering from chronic liver disease that is driving rates of liver cancer and cirrhosis in the region according to the latest statistics WHO.
“I am absolutely committed to the cause of hepatitis. As a person living with hepatitis B, I know the pain and sufferings that hepatitis causes. No one should ever suffer from viral hepatitis,” Mr Bachchan said at an event here organized by World Health Organization in Mumbai,India.
Mr .Bachchan’s voice is one that is listened to by people across the country, regardless of cultural, social or economic background and can make real change possible. We have witnessed this in polio eradication,” Mr J P Nadda, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, India, said in a video message, while congratulating Mr Bachchan and WHO for the momentous partnership.
As WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis in the Region, Mr Bachchan will lend his voice and support to public awareness programmes that aim to scale up preventive measures and advocate for early diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis to reduce the disease burden.
