At a time when one in three persons suffers from liver diseases, persuading the younger generation to go in for early diagnosis of Hepatitis B is essential to ward off any serious illness.
Speaking at the Hepatitis B free screening and vaccination programme conducted in view of World Hepatitis Day, falling on Monday, Prithvi Mohandas, joint managing director of MIOT Hospitals, said people have become increasingly cynical of early treatment owing to lack of trust.
“For instance, when those with diabetes are not diagnosed early, they may end up with kidney failure. The later you come, the more expensive it gets,” he said.
For D. Kalaivani, a nursing student from Ambur, having seen three of her family members suffer from Hepatitis B, she found the need to get tested at the camp. “Though they recovered eventually, I didn’t want to go through that trauma,” she added.
The hospital conducted a quiz and screened nearly 1,000 school students from classes VIII to XII.
A.G.S. Lokeshwar, a class IX student, said he was fascinated when taken on a tour through the hospital and exposed to information on the diseases of the digestive system and liver.
Walkathon aims at awarenessPeople from all walks of life participated in a walkathon organised by Chennai Liver Foundation to create awareness of Hepatitis B, on Marina Beach on Sunday.
The walkathon covered around two kilometres from Labour Statue to Gandhi Statue.
R.P. Shanmugam, founder-trustee, Chennai Liver Foundation, said this was the first time the foundation was organising a walkathon to create awareness of Hepatitis B and C diseases. A vaccination camp was also held
N.S. Shankar, director of Lions Club International, flagged off the walkathon.
