Rally to mark World Hepatitis Day

Visakhapatnam: Medicos, along with denizens, participated in awareness rally which was taken out by Andhra Medical College, gastroenterology department, to mark the World Hepatitis Day at the RK Beach here on Saturday. 

Before the rally, students conducted a flash mob and attracted the walkers on the Beach Road, later walked on the beach road by holding banners to create awareness on various types of hepatitis.

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), approximately 4.4 million Americans are currently living with chronic hepatitis B and C. 

Speaking on the occasion, KGH superintendent G Arjuna said that many more people don’t even know that they have hepatitis. Hepatitis B, C, and D can be prevented by not sharing drug needles, razors, not using someone else’s toothbrush, not touching spilled blood. 

Hepatitis B and C can also be contracted through sexual intercourse and intimate sexual contact. 

Practising safe sex by using condoms can help decrease the risk of infection, he added. Treatment options vary depending upon which type of hepatitis one have. You can prevent some forms of hepatitis through immunization and lifestyle precautions.

The chronic hepatitis B or C can often lead to more serious health problems, as the virus affects liver, people with chronic hepatitis B or C may lead to risk for liver cancer and chronic liver diseases, said RMO Sastry from KGH.