School Children make a splash in Delhi’s Liver Institute on World Hepatitis Day
New Delhi|HL
To commemorate World Hepatitis Day 2024, the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, organized a series of events aligned with the WHO theme “It’s Time for Action.” The event aimed to educate school children about hepatitis and its prevention.
Activities included a logo-making and a public speaking competition. Over 200 students from 15 schools in Delhi-NCR participated, with the cloudy weather and a volley of rain showers adding an extra zing to the celebrations. Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Director and Chancellor of ILBS, addressed the audience on the importance of hepatitis prevention and the need to combat associated stigma.
Approximately 130 children showcased their talents in the logo-making competition, creating designs that highlighted the fight against hepatitis and the significance of awareness. Sixty students participated in the public speaking competition, demonstrating their understanding of hepatitis and its impact through creative and confident presentations.
The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony felicitating the winners of both competitions, as well as the judges and dignitaries participating.
To further enhance their learning on the topic at hand, children engaged in interactive activities reinforcing the information presented. Educating young minds about hepatitis is vital for a healthier future. ILBS proudly hosted this event and continued its strife to contribute to global efforts to eliminate hepatitis. The children’s enthusiasm and dedication were inspiring, as evidenced by their exceptional performance in the public speaking and logo-making competitions.
About World Hepatitis Day
Viral hepatitis is a serious global health concern that can lead to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). These complications account for 96% of all hepatitis-related deaths.
Globally, an estimated 304 million people are living with hepatitis B or C. Alarmingly, most individuals remain unaware of their infection, with only 15% of those with hepatitis B knowing their status. Access to testing and treatment is limited, and consequently, just 3% of those infected with hepatitis B are receiving necessary care. The annual death toll from hepatitis surpasses 1.3 million, making it the only communicable disease with a rising mortality rate.
Every day, a staggering 6,000 new hepatitis infections occur globally, while 3,500 lives are tragically lost to this preventable disease.
This brings home a heart-breaking fact: someone dies from hepatitis-related illness every 30 seconds. Urgent and accelerated action is imperative to enhance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.
India carries a substantial burden of the global hepatitis epidemic, with an estimated 29.8 million people living with hepatitis B and 5.5 million with hepatitis C, constituting nearly 11% of the worldwide total.
World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28th to raise awareness about the global burden of viral hepatitis and to galvanize action against this critical health challenge. Commemorating the birthday of Nobel laureate Dr. Baruch Blumberg, the discoverer of the hepatitis B virus and its vaccine, the day serves as a platform for advocacy, education, and engagement among governments, healthcare professionals, and the public. The overarching goal is to eliminate viral hepatitis as a major public health threat. This year’s theme, “It’s Time for Action,” underscores the urgency of the situation. By educating policymakers, healthcare providers, and the general public about hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment, World Hepatitis Day aims to improve public health outcomes.
About Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences
The Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences is an Autonomous Super-speciality, Medical-cum-Research Institute for treatment of Liver and Biliary diseases under Government of NCT of Delhi. Since inception, the Institute has been making sincere endeavor to attain the bench mark of the best available quality parameters towards delivery of advance healthcare in the public domain at affordable costs.
In January 2012 ILBS achieved the distinction of being the first Autonomous Super-Specialty institute in the country to be awarded the prestigious “NABH Accreditation” by the National Accreditation Board for hospital and Healthcare Providers in recognition of its outstanding compliance with the stringent national and international standards aimed towards patient safety and delivery of Excellence in Quality Healthcare. In 2013 it also achieved the NABL accreditation for its laboratory services. It is the first autonomous super specialty institute under GNCT of Delhi to be accredited by NABH and NABL.
