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‘I suffered from TB in 2000’, Says Big B

September 10, 2015

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THE Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has launched the ‘Mumbai Mission for TB Control’ awareness campaign, with Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador.

At an event to launch the campaign, Bachchan made the revelation of having suffered from tuberculosis in 2000, saying, “I have been a victim of this disease in spite of all precautions and safety measures, so those is the slums are surely more vulnerable. However, with timely treatment and medical intervention, this disease can be cured,” said the superstar.

While a number NGOs and corporates, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, committed their support and resources in promoting the awareness campaign, The wp Journal also is also a prominent partner in spreading the message. Kanhaiya Singh, Managing Editor, The wp Journal, said, “We are proud to be a part of Mumbai mission for TB Control Awareness and The wp Journal is not only committed to provide free publicity, but intends to play a bigger role in creating a platform for generating resources through wp funds for complete Eradication of this Disease.”

Some facts about tuberculosis:

India is home to one fourth of the world’s new TB cases.
Around 300,000 Indians lose their lives each year due to TB
2.3 million new cases are reported annually and
One of the main causes for the rise in TB and drug-resistant TB is a lack of awareness

Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra, applauded the BMC’s initiative and expressed his gratitude to Bachchan for supporting the TB eradication campaign. While Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray pledged all possible support in creating awareness for the menace of TB, “Every Shiv Sainik will be asked to go around in his/her neighborhood and spread the message,” said Thackeray.

Dr. Khetarpal, Dy. Executive Health Officer (TB), Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, elaborated, “Patients with drug-resistant TB are in an advanced condition. They do not respond to a set of drugs and it requires treatment for a long period (18 months – 2 years).” In fact, Mumbai accounts for 50% of Maharashtra’s drug-resistant TB cases. 2,383 multi-drug resistant (MDR) cases were registered in 2013 alone.