United Way of Mumbai and AmeriCares India organise street plays for hepatitis awareness

United Way of Mumbai and AmeriCares India Foundation came forward to educate and spread awareness about hepatitis among the citizens of Mumbai. Street plays were organised by these NGOs on August 1, 2013 at Worli and Wadala. On August 2, they were organised at Malad, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Churchgate and CST.

This community-based awareness programme is a part of project PAHAL being implemented by United Way of Mumbai, AmeriCares India Foundation and National Liver Foundation with support from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. It has been carried out with the Green Ribbon Brigadiers, a group of student volunteers from well known city colleges – Sydenham College and Jai Hind College.

The street plays were about the need to address the lack of awareness among the people despite more than 100,000 people dying in India due to the disease. They also aimed to educate about the ‘silent’ nature of the disease and how important it is for people to address the disease facts in the right manner.

Hepatitis B and C together affect 500 million and approximately kill one million people every year. These are indicative of insufficient awareness among people about the disease. Through such initiatives these NGOs are trying to spread awareness among the people with a goal to help them make better decisions regarding their health.

EH News Bureau