By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, July 29: Tibetan exiles observed the World Hepatitis Day on Friday at the TCV Day school here with an event attended by Dr. Tsewang Tamdin, Chairman of Tibetan Medicine & Astrology Council and a personal physician to the Dalai Lama. “Tibetans must keep in mind the long-term impact of the Hepatitis disease since Tibet we are a scarcely populated nation and taking precaution is a great service to the community”, said Dr. Tsewang Tamdin.
Dr. Tamdin expressed his concern over the high percentage and the growing number of Hepatitis cases in the Tibetan society.
Referring to Hepatitis as a silent but a deadly disease, he said, “It is preventable, so get a thorough check up and vaccinations. It is important because it will be beneficial not just for you but the health your descendants. I feel it is a great service to the Tibetan community.”
Dr. Tamdin added the importance of having a healthy community since a community with healthy people can do more from serving the community to fight for a cause.
With the growing popularity of Tibetan medicine curing Hepatitis, he also advised that the Tibetans have a ‘gem’ in their possession. However, it is up to them to decide whether to make use of it or not to fight the disease.
Observed under the theme ‘Eliminate Hepatitis’, Jampa Phuntsok, Joint Secretary of the Department of Health said it is important to create awareness of the deadly disease within the community. According to him, around 600-700 Tibetans (known) have been recorded with the most prevalent being the type B.
According to a prevalence study of Hepatitis B conducted by the department in association with John Hopkins University in 2013, among a sample of 2769 people in a Tibetan settlement in South India. As per the findings, the prevalence of Hepatitis B has been reported as 8.9% among the Tibetan population in India. It is highest in the age group of 35-50 and it is slightly more among males than in females.
Earlier in the morning, Khunphen Center, a Tibetan NGO also carried out an awareness march through the streets of McLeod Ganj to spread awareness. According to the NGO, Hepatitis is more prevalent in our society then HIV AIDS.
On the centenary celebrations of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute last year, the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his disappointment over the rising number of deaths among Tibetans, especially monastic community due to poor health in an apparent reference to Hepatitis.
