GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vaccines, has launched 'Koi Hai', an education programme on Hepatitis A.
The education programme, aims at creating awareness and educating the public on the disease, thereby enabling people to protect themselves against it.
The programme entails social interventions at the workplace, schools and clinics that reach out to the various segments of audiences. A key project is the workplace intervention programme that has been initiated in people intensive sectors like industries, corporate companies and Para Military forces.
School contact programmes aimed at improving awareness levels and to induce prevention against the disease is another important initiative. In-clinic awareness campaigns are for parents, Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes for doctors. There will also be a public interest film, which will be aired on various television channels.
According to a survey conducted by TNS Mode, overall awareness levels on hepatitis A, its causes and impact were seen to be quite low in India. Awareness levels on the disease were observed to be lower in Delhi as compared to centres like Mumbai and Chennai. 61% of the respondents in Delhi as compared to 39% in Mumbai, 11% in Chennai were unaware of the sources of infection. There also seems to be some confusion on the primary organ affected by the hepatitis A virus, as 61% of the respondents in Mumbai, 40% in Delhi and 29% in Chennai believe that either the kidneys, the heart, the eyes or the stomach, as opposed to the liver, are primarily affected by the disease. While Jaundice is considered to be a disease by lay people, it may often be symptom of viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A or hepatitis B.
Dr Sanjoy K Datta, medical director, GSK Vaccines, said, "Hepatitis A is a highly infectious disease that can be prevented. Our research has proven that awareness levels are quite low in terms of types of hepatitis, symptoms, infection sources and prevention. Hence emphasis of an educational campaign is crucial.
Vaccination is the most effective, practical and convenient way of preventing hepatitis A. The primary vaccination course of 2 doses spread out over 6 months provides protection for at least 25 years, with experts agreeing that there is no further need for boosting, he informed.