Mumbai, July 28, 2016: Cipla Limited, a global pharmaceutical company which uses cutting edge
technology and innovation to meet the everyday needs of patients, conducted a series of events to
mark the World Hepatitis Day on July 28th
.
ACT-C (awareness, counselling and treatment of Hepatitis C), a public service initiative of Cipla supported by Cipla Foundation took the message of “NOhep” to people on World Hepatitis Day. NoHep is a global movement of World Hepatitis Alliance that calls for people across the world to sign up for the initiative and take action to eliminate hepatitis by 2030.
Viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver due to a virus, is the 7 th leading cause of death globally, accounting for 1.4 million deaths per year – more than HIV/AIDS or malaria. The most common of the viruses are hepatitis B and C, which affect up to 400 million worldwide and cause 80% of liver cancer deaths worldwide. Hepatitis infection is a significant health issue, every year, over one lakh people in India are afflicted by hepatitis C, with an estimated 1 in every 100 people infected by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). People with chronic hepatitis C can live for decades without the symptoms or feeling sick and do not know that they are infected. When symptoms do appear, they often are a sign of advanced liver disease.
To create awareness and sensitize people on the need of screening for hepatitis, Cipla Foundation has been galvanizing doctors, hospitals, voluntary and non-government organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders to come together for joint action.
ACT-C and Cipla Foundation organized various events to spread awareness on hepatitis. ACT-C Yatra — Cipla Foundation flagged off a Bus Yatra from Ludhiana earlier this month to inform doctors and motivate patients to come forward to seek treatment. The bus has been traveling across 17 districts in Punjab, covering 200 villages and reaching 10,000 people so far.
The ACT-C Yatra is a one-of-its-kind initiative undertaken by Cipla Foundation, to raise grassroot awareness about hepatitis, influence real change in disease diagnosis and prevention through educational initiatives. Northern parts of the country especially Punjab fall under high prevalence areas for Hepatitis C. Experts say that high prevalence areas need urgent attention and awareness pertaining to new medicines and treatments to check this ‘Silent killer.’ A recent study conducted in 10 districts of Punjab suggested that prevalence of hepatitis C is 3.29 % (anti-HCV positive).
NGO Partner meet — to galvanize joint action and reach vulnerable groups, Cipla Foundation had organized an awareness workshop for its NGO partners on July 27th in Mumbai. Attended by leading NGOS like MSF, HelpageIndia, Ummeed Foundation, Swasth Foundation and SNEHA among others, the NGO representatives learnt about hepatitis from leading doctors in the field and discussed the role their organization can play in combatting this epidemic. The existing networks of NGOs in the field and their relationships with the communities put them in a unique position to spread the message of hepatitis prevention and treatment to the ‘hard to reach sections’ of the society.
Awareness and Free Testing Drives — to empower people with information and give them access to testing, Cipla Foundation is running awareness drives for employees of Sodexo servicing Cipla offices in Mumbai. Over 500 Sodexo employees were given free hepatitis testing coupons. In addition, Cipla Foundation is working with BEST to run similar free diagnosis drives for 5000 BEST employees.
Rumana Hamied, Head, Cipla Foundation said, “Building awareness is critical to tackling the hepatitis crisis and Cipla Foundation is spreading the message of prevention and treatment. With the ACT-C Yatra across Punjab, awareness sessions for our NGO partners to galvanize joint action and free hepatitis testing drives for Sodexo and BEST employees in Mumbai, we are building momentum behind the global movement to eliminate hepatitis by 2030.”
Human C Formation — on 28th of July, World Hepatitis Day, Cipla employees came together to form a human ‘C’ making a bold statement to eliminate hepatitis C.
NOhep’s fundamental objective is to create awareness about viral hepatitis and the role people can play, in their own lives, at more structural levels and in their communities, to help eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. With World Health Organization (WHO) adopting the Viral Hepatitis Strategy and the commitment of 194 governments to eliminate viral hepatitis, elimination of viral hepatitis can be a reality. By 2030, NOhep hopes to bring people together to save 7.1 million lives, by raising global awareness of hepatitis, helping those affected by hepatitis to speak up and by pressing governments to scale up resources to meet the targets outlined in the strategy. If you want to find out more what could happen in 2030, watch the ‘2030 Year in Review’ video and join the movement at NOhep.org.
About Cipla Foundation:
Since inception, social responsibility has been at the core of Cipla. Cipla Foundation was registered in 2011 to take Cipla’s socially focused business legacy forward. It mirrors Cipla’s relentless commitment to improve lives and fights inequities on key fronts. In line with Cipla’s global footprint, the Foundation supports communities around Cipla units and beyond. Support that is much more than financial aid; it includes rigorous investment of time, effort and energy to maximise impact. Cipla Foundation works with like-minded and passionate partners to affect change on the ground. To build accessibility and affordability, initiatives in India focus on Healthcare, Skill Enhancement, Education and Disaster Response. The Cipla Palliative Care & Training Centre, Pune, India is the Foundation’s flagship initiative. The centre provides quality end-of-life care to terminally ill cancer patients at no cost. Till date, Cipla Foundation has impacted over 1,00,000 lives. It is driven by Cipla’s credo that Every Life Matters and is guided by its vision that ‘None Shall be Denied’.
About Cipla Ltd.
Cipla is a global pharmaceutical company which uses cutting edge technology and innovation to meet the everyday needs of all patients. For 80 years, Cipla has emerged as one of the most respected pharmaceutical names in India as well as across more than 100 countries. Our portfolio includes over 1000 products across wide range of therapeutic categories with one quality standard globally. Whilst delivering a long-term sustainable business, Cipla recognises its duty to provide affordable medicines. Cipla’s emphasis on access for patients was recognised globally for the pioneering role played in HIV/AIDS treatment as the first pharmaceutical company to provide a triple combination anti-retroviral (ARV) in Africa at less than a dollar a day and thereby treating many millions of patients since 2001. Cipla's research and development focuses on developing innovative products and drug delivery systems.
Media Contacts:
Corporate Communications
Pallavi Golar
Mobile: +91 9833641788
E Mail: pallavi.golar@cipla.com
ACT-C (awareness, counselling and treatment of Hepatitis C), a public service initiative of Cipla supported by Cipla Foundation took the message of “NOhep” to people on World Hepatitis Day. NoHep is a global movement of World Hepatitis Alliance that calls for people across the world to sign up for the initiative and take action to eliminate hepatitis by 2030.
Viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver due to a virus, is the 7 th leading cause of death globally, accounting for 1.4 million deaths per year – more than HIV/AIDS or malaria. The most common of the viruses are hepatitis B and C, which affect up to 400 million worldwide and cause 80% of liver cancer deaths worldwide. Hepatitis infection is a significant health issue, every year, over one lakh people in India are afflicted by hepatitis C, with an estimated 1 in every 100 people infected by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). People with chronic hepatitis C can live for decades without the symptoms or feeling sick and do not know that they are infected. When symptoms do appear, they often are a sign of advanced liver disease.
To create awareness and sensitize people on the need of screening for hepatitis, Cipla Foundation has been galvanizing doctors, hospitals, voluntary and non-government organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders to come together for joint action.
ACT-C and Cipla Foundation organized various events to spread awareness on hepatitis. ACT-C Yatra — Cipla Foundation flagged off a Bus Yatra from Ludhiana earlier this month to inform doctors and motivate patients to come forward to seek treatment. The bus has been traveling across 17 districts in Punjab, covering 200 villages and reaching 10,000 people so far.
The ACT-C Yatra is a one-of-its-kind initiative undertaken by Cipla Foundation, to raise grassroot awareness about hepatitis, influence real change in disease diagnosis and prevention through educational initiatives. Northern parts of the country especially Punjab fall under high prevalence areas for Hepatitis C. Experts say that high prevalence areas need urgent attention and awareness pertaining to new medicines and treatments to check this ‘Silent killer.’ A recent study conducted in 10 districts of Punjab suggested that prevalence of hepatitis C is 3.29 % (anti-HCV positive).
NGO Partner meet — to galvanize joint action and reach vulnerable groups, Cipla Foundation had organized an awareness workshop for its NGO partners on July 27th in Mumbai. Attended by leading NGOS like MSF, HelpageIndia, Ummeed Foundation, Swasth Foundation and SNEHA among others, the NGO representatives learnt about hepatitis from leading doctors in the field and discussed the role their organization can play in combatting this epidemic. The existing networks of NGOs in the field and their relationships with the communities put them in a unique position to spread the message of hepatitis prevention and treatment to the ‘hard to reach sections’ of the society.
Awareness and Free Testing Drives — to empower people with information and give them access to testing, Cipla Foundation is running awareness drives for employees of Sodexo servicing Cipla offices in Mumbai. Over 500 Sodexo employees were given free hepatitis testing coupons. In addition, Cipla Foundation is working with BEST to run similar free diagnosis drives for 5000 BEST employees.
Rumana Hamied, Head, Cipla Foundation said, “Building awareness is critical to tackling the hepatitis crisis and Cipla Foundation is spreading the message of prevention and treatment. With the ACT-C Yatra across Punjab, awareness sessions for our NGO partners to galvanize joint action and free hepatitis testing drives for Sodexo and BEST employees in Mumbai, we are building momentum behind the global movement to eliminate hepatitis by 2030.”
Human C Formation — on 28th of July, World Hepatitis Day, Cipla employees came together to form a human ‘C’ making a bold statement to eliminate hepatitis C.
NOhep’s fundamental objective is to create awareness about viral hepatitis and the role people can play, in their own lives, at more structural levels and in their communities, to help eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. With World Health Organization (WHO) adopting the Viral Hepatitis Strategy and the commitment of 194 governments to eliminate viral hepatitis, elimination of viral hepatitis can be a reality. By 2030, NOhep hopes to bring people together to save 7.1 million lives, by raising global awareness of hepatitis, helping those affected by hepatitis to speak up and by pressing governments to scale up resources to meet the targets outlined in the strategy. If you want to find out more what could happen in 2030, watch the ‘2030 Year in Review’ video and join the movement at NOhep.org.
About Cipla Foundation:
Since inception, social responsibility has been at the core of Cipla. Cipla Foundation was registered in 2011 to take Cipla’s socially focused business legacy forward. It mirrors Cipla’s relentless commitment to improve lives and fights inequities on key fronts. In line with Cipla’s global footprint, the Foundation supports communities around Cipla units and beyond. Support that is much more than financial aid; it includes rigorous investment of time, effort and energy to maximise impact. Cipla Foundation works with like-minded and passionate partners to affect change on the ground. To build accessibility and affordability, initiatives in India focus on Healthcare, Skill Enhancement, Education and Disaster Response. The Cipla Palliative Care & Training Centre, Pune, India is the Foundation’s flagship initiative. The centre provides quality end-of-life care to terminally ill cancer patients at no cost. Till date, Cipla Foundation has impacted over 1,00,000 lives. It is driven by Cipla’s credo that Every Life Matters and is guided by its vision that ‘None Shall be Denied’.
About Cipla Ltd.
Cipla is a global pharmaceutical company which uses cutting edge technology and innovation to meet the everyday needs of all patients. For 80 years, Cipla has emerged as one of the most respected pharmaceutical names in India as well as across more than 100 countries. Our portfolio includes over 1000 products across wide range of therapeutic categories with one quality standard globally. Whilst delivering a long-term sustainable business, Cipla recognises its duty to provide affordable medicines. Cipla’s emphasis on access for patients was recognised globally for the pioneering role played in HIV/AIDS treatment as the first pharmaceutical company to provide a triple combination anti-retroviral (ARV) in Africa at less than a dollar a day and thereby treating many millions of patients since 2001. Cipla's research and development focuses on developing innovative products and drug delivery systems.
Media Contacts:
Corporate Communications
Pallavi Golar
Mobile: +91 9833641788
E Mail: pallavi.golar@cipla.com
