Big B offers services to spread awareness about infectious diseases

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan on Monday offered his services to the government for creating awareness about infectious diseases, specially tuberculosis and hepatitis B.

Bachchan, accompanied by his wife and Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan, met union Health Minister J.P. Nadda at his residence and offered his services to spread awareness about the disease, a senior health ministry official told IANS.

Nadda tweeted: "Deeply impressed by humility and social commitment. Happy to inform that Shri @SrBachchan showed a keen interest in helping to create awareness on health issues".

"I thank Shri @SrBachchan for offering his support to the health ministry for creating awareness on health issues especially Hepatitis B and TB."

The 72-year-old Bachchan also took to the micro-blogging website to share an update.

"The start of another mission - the awareness for Hepatitis B... meeting authorities to take this forward - like Polio and TB," he wrote.

The "Don" star has been associated with Unicef as a Global Ambassador for polio eradication since 2005. His active campaigning for the cause, coupled with other factors, helped India achieve its polio-free status.