On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, 28th July, 2019, The Empathy Campaign organized a major conclave on the eve of World Hepatitis Day. The conclave brought together several parliamentarians, minsters, policy makers, journalists, education experts, lawyers, social activists, corporate leaders, etc. and several people infected by Hepatitis B & C, who deliberated of the different aspects Hepatitis B & C, keeping Empathy Campaign as a core theme. The dignitaries included Honorable Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla, Honorable Health Minster of India, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Honorable Law Minister of India, Dr. Dr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, to name a few.
Several panel discussions held during the conclave, with eminent panelist deliberating upon the technical aspects of the Silent epidemic of Hepatitis B & C, exploring the stigma and discrimination faced by people infected Hepatitis B & C, ways to increase people’s participation in Empowering people against Hepatitis.
The proceedings of the conclave were casted live on several social media handles, like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, reaching out to thousands of people. At the conclave, The Chief Guest and honorable speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla, launched the booklet – The Spirit of Empathy, an advocacy tool, explaining the need for Empathy for people living with Hepatitis B & C. The Honorable, Health Minister of India, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, launched the nation-wide #IPledgekNOwHep social media campaign, and also took a pledge with all dignitaries to support the cause of Empowering People Against Hepatitis B & C.
At the conclave several speakers including honorable Law Minister of India, Dr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, admitted that they were unaware of these aspects of these infections and assured necessary legislation to protect the rights of infected, and congratulated the ILBS for undertaking the Empathy Campaign and requested the team to continue their efforts in the noble cause.
The official announcement of the Brand Ambassador of the Empathy Campaign – Mc. Mary Kom was made, and the video message given by her to educate the masses was also launched and circulated amongst the media, in the Conclave. In which, she talked about how the mother to child infection spreads and what all precautionary measures to be taken to protect the new-borns and the children.