New Delhi, Jul 28 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday reiterated India's commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to eliminate Hepatitis by 2030.
Birla, who presided over a seminar on 'World Hepatitis Day' in Parliament House Complex, said, 'Hepatitis is a matter of serious concern for all of us and it is our collective duty to eradicate the disease.'
He spoke on the role of public representatives of democratic institutions, from Panchayats to Parliament, and stressed that they can be agents of awareness among the masses which will help in the prevention and eradication of not only Hepatitis but other diseases as well.
Educating people will eliminate their ignorance about Hepatitis, the Lok Sabha Speaker observed.
Praising legislators' hard work during the pandemic, he said that many lawmakers have contributed tremendously during the Covid period which resulted in mass awareness among the public.
'They have proved that no matter how tough the circumstances may be, with our collective efforts, India has the strength to overcome all challenges,' he said, adding that the same level of awareness and efforts are required for Hepatitis also.
On the capacity building of Members in this regard, the LS Speaker said that lawmakers should constantly interact with experts at the global level and share the best practices among themselves.
On this occasion, the Lok Sabha Speaker also felicitated Late Guruprasad Mohapatra, former Secretary DPIIT and former Chairman AAI, posthumously, for his contributions in eliminating Hepatitis from India.
Anjali Mohapatra, wife of Late Guruprasad Mohapatra received the memento.
Union Minister of Law & Justice Kiren Rijiju; Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya; Deputy Rajya Sabha Chairman Harivansh; Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies and Councils; Mr Michaeal Houghton, Noble Laureate; Dr Poonam Kheterpal, Regional Director-South East Asia, WHO; and Secretary-General, Lok Sabha Utpal Kumar Singh participated in the seminar.
The seminar was organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat in coordination with the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS).
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