Actor Swwapnil Joshi appointed as ‘Brand Ambassador for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis’

Actor Swwapnil Joshi has been appointed as the official ‘Brand Ambassador for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF)’ in Maharashtra. The actor will help raise awareness about Lymphatic Filariasis (or Hathi Rog, as it is colloquially known) and the government’s efforts to eliminate the disease from Maharashtra.

With international attention focused on India, as it works toward eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis by 2020, this commitment has established Swwapnil as a national public health champion and influencer.

The government distributes free-of-cost preventive medicines for filariasis every year through Mass Drug Administration (MDA), but a large section of the population does not consume the medicines because of lack of awareness about their benefits.

Swwapnil, who has been shooting for awareness videos for the upcoming MDA round in Nagpur on 20th January, said: “The time has come to make this ancient scourge history. And I am honoured to be able to contribute to this cause. Hathi Rog is an entirely preventable disease. But few people know that. I hope to be able to play my part in changing the situation by encouraging people to have the government-administered medicines. It is up to us, the people, to ensure that Maharashtra, and India, is free of filariasis.”