MUMBAI: For the first time in the history of any airport, GVK MIAL, the company that administers Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), today observed World Hepatitis Day 2017 by organizing a free check-up camp, a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.
With an endeavour to create awareness and curb the spreading of Hepatitis, the airport operator, in association with SRL Diagnostics, conducted free Lipid profile and Liver Health Screening at the Medical Centres located inside CSIA’s Terminal 1 & 2 for travelers and MIAL employees. The day-long camp received an enthusiastic response with more than 1000 passengers participating in the health drive.
As per estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), 4 crore people in India live with chronic Hepatitis B and an additional 6 to 12 million with Hepatitis C. This accounts for 40% and over 20% of Hepatitis B and C infections respectively in South-East Asia. This initiative is an attempt by GVK MIAL to spread awareness about the Hepatitis virus and promote efforts towards eliminating this disease.
Hepatitis is considered to be one of the leading causes of death globally, accounting for 1.34 million deaths per year. Together, Hepatitis B & C virus causes 80% of the liver cancer cases in the world. 90% of the people living with Hepatitis B and 80% percent of the people living with Hepatitis C are not aware of their status. This can either result in a possibility of developing a fatal liver disease or transmitting the infection to others.
World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes places on 28 July every year to raise awareness of the hepatitis virus with an endeavor to influence change. It is one of just four disease-specific global awareness days that are officially endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
