Popular actor and UN Habitat Youth Envoy Vikram today became the Brand Ambassador of MIOT Hospitals and launched a massive Hepatitis-B vaccination campaign. At a function got up at the hospital premises, the 'Ravanan' star inaugurated the week-long campaign to mark the WorldHepatitis-B Day under which the hospital would organise health programmes onprevention of Hep-B.
MIOT Hospitals Founder Dr P V A Mohandas said from today, the MIOT Advanced Centre for Gastro Intestinal and Liver Diseases started by the hospital, would conduct health exhibition, form Yellow Ribbon Clubs and Yellow Brigades on the lines of the most popular Red Ribbon campaign to combat the dreaded HIV, to create an awareness and spread the message on diseaseprevention and health promotion, in schools and among the public.
More than 22,000 students drawn from 13 schools were brought to the Hospital premises for Hep-B screening after which they were given free dose of vaccination. ''The complete course of Hepatitis B vaccination worth Rs 1697 was given free to them'', Dr Mohandas added. On the reason behind setting up the Advanced Centre, Dr Mohandas said the statistics of Hep-B virus rate in India was appalling.
''About 40 per cent of people affected by Hep-B virus end up with cirrhosis of liver or liver cancer that would lead to death'', he added. He said ''one has to take the first step to reach the top. We have started this campaign today. We wanted to take this to every nook and corner of Tamil Nadu and in India''. Expressing his happiness to be a part of this novel movement, Actor Vikram said he was greatly indebted to Dr Mohandas.
''What I am today is because of Dr Mohandas, who gave me a new lease of life after I met with a major road accident and could not walk'', he said. Showering encomiums on Dr Mohandas for his humanitarian and selfless service in providing quality health care, Vikram said MIOT Hospitals had made huge strides by bringing advanced technology and having good doctors, besides launching new initiatives like 'Live for Life' against Hep-B.
Dr George M Chandy, who heads the Advanced Centre, said the hospital issued more than two lakh pamphlets across Tamil Nadu and people started lining up at the hospital since morning for Hep-B virus screening and vaccination. Noting that Hepatitis-B infection was one of the commonest cause for liver cancer, Dr Chandy said with a view to create awareness and protect the liver and to spread the message that Hep-B infection could be prevented by vaccination, MIOT Hospitals today officially launched 'Live for Life', an yellow ribbon campaign, against liver diseases, with focus on Hep-B infection.
Vikram also presented awards to top three finishers of a quiz competition organised by the Hospital to mark the World Hepatitis Day.
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