One in three people in the world are exposed to Hepatitis B. Some become carriers of the virus without any symptoms while others develop chronic infection of the liver. India has 40 million carriers of this virus. Hepatitis B can rarely be a killer disease due to liver failure or liver cancer resulting in one lakh deaths annually. World Hepatitis Day is a reminder that we can eliminate these risks by vaccinating ourselves against Hepatitis B, a preventable disease. A simple vaccine can save many lives.

This is the story of Divya*, a 22-year-old woman who had Hepatitis B. Her husband is a daily wage laborer and they live in Ambur near Vellore. Divya was pregnant with her second child. When she was in her first trimester, she became acutely unwell, feeling tired and drowsy.

She was brought to CMC where she tested positive for Hepatitis B and was diagnosed with acute liver failure. Divya and her family were devastated. She was immediately admitted in the ICU under the care of the Department of Hepatology. Antiviral drugs and plasma exchange therapy helped stabilize her liver. After 7 days in the ICU, she showed signs of improvement. Divya gradually recovered in the ward and was soon discharged. Six months later, Divya delivered a beautiful baby girl. Her baby was vaccinated against Hepatitis B at birth. Divya says, “We are forever grateful to CMC for giving me and my daughter a new life. We are filled with joy and a hope for the future”

CMC’s Person-To-Person ensured that Divya received financial support for the lifesaving care she rightly deserved. A gift of ₹10,000 will support one patient and when you give, CMC multiplies your gift by 5 ensuring that deserving patients like Divya get the treatment they need. Donate today and make a difference!

Click here to learn more about Hepatitis B

*Name changed. Story used with consent of the patient Details contributed by the Department of Hepatology