12-Hour #SwasthyaMantra Telethon: Amitabh Bachchan Salutes Frontline Workers For Their Work

New Delhi: “In these trying times, it is just unbelievable the kind of work our doctors and healthcare staff are doing to save each one of us. Every one of them is staying on the premise 24×7, not going home, meeting their wives/husbands, children or family members,” said Bollywood Megastar and the Campaign Ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan on the 12-hour Banega Swasth India #SwasthyaMantra telethon held on October 2. Further appreciating the support of the healthcare workers and talking about the coronavirus outbreak in India, Mr Bachchan said,

I have seen the doctors and healthcare staff on their toes managing COVID-19 patients personally and the work they are doing is just so exceptional. On a drop or press of the button, the doctors, nurses, or staff members are there in front of you so that the COVID-19 patient is at ease.

Also Read: 12-Hour #SwasthyaMantra Telethon: Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan Sets The Agenda For Season 7 Of Banega Swasth India Campaign

Highlighting the importance of hygiene and urging everyone to take the necessary precautions to fight the coronavirus battle, Mr Bachchan added,

The world doesn’t have any vaccine for coronavirus. We also don’t know when we will have a vaccine for coronavirus and if we have the vaccine then in how much time we will be able to cover each of our population. Secondly, we don’t know, if the vaccine will be enough for this virus or till how many years, we will be immune. But what we know is that we have the three most important pillars to protect us from COVID-19 and these are – Washing hands regularly or maintaining good hygiene, wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing.

Giving the examples of many diseases in India for which we don’t have any vaccine and yet we are going about our daily lives normally, Mr Bachchan said,

We don’t have any vaccine for many diseases like HIV, nor we know if the vaccine will ever come out for this disease. Yet, we all have been living our normal lives for so many years. Likewise, we need to do for coronavirus, for now, we hope we have a vaccine soon and we all are happy and safe, but till then, what we all need to do is take all the necessary precautions without neglecting it. We need to understand that hygiene is very crucial in our fight against COVID. We all need to become part of the solution and fight coronavirus.

Also Read: ‘Only A Swachh India Can Become A Swasth Bharat,’ Amitabh Bachchan On Supporting The Clean India Cause

Mr Bachchan also said that these precautionary measures have proven to work as there are other countries and nations that are handling COVID much better by taking these measures only. He added,

In today’s scenario, we all have to do our best to keep the virus away from ourselves and others. The whole world is fighting a war against coronavirus, but we need not worry because we have the support of the best doctors and good healthcare facilities. The challenge before us is how we can provide the healthcare facilities to every individual and how each and every one of us can come together, follow the necessary guidelines and precautions and come out of this pandemic.

The 77-year-old actor, who tested positive for the coronavirus in July highlighted his personal experiences on battling COVID and said that there are many ways in which coronavirus affects the patient’s body – one of the after-effects of coming out of COVID is that you get a lot of weakness for about 4 to 5 months. He further said,

The other thing, which I especially experienced in my COVID journey is the effect of the disease on the patient’s mental health. I realised, how important and essential it is for a human being to see another human being. During my COVID days, all I saw was ghost like doctors, who were wearing white PPE kits. Didn’t get to see their faces or their expression – it is very depressing and it does take a toll on your mental health.

Mr Bachchan signed off with a message for all his fans and citizens, he said that this year, good health should be everyone’s top priority as we are all surrounded by a pandemic – COVID19. Focus on three pillars to make the world safe and healthy – Health, Hygiene & Sanitation, and Environment. He said,

Through Banega Swasth India campaign, this year, we have brought a new mantra – ’Swachh Se Swasth’ (Clean environment for a healthy society). I urge each one of you, to stay clean and healthy.

Also Read: Coronavirus Scare: Amitabh Bachchan Advises People To Stay Safe And Follow All The Precautions Via His Poem

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.