9 January 2017
MUMBAI: U.S. Ambassador to
India Richard R. Verma and legendary Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan came
together for a Live Video Chat on Facebook, dedicating their time to talk about
the important issue of tuberculosis (TB) with their fans and followers.
Going live from
Mumbai, the two talked about the U.S. Embassy’s collaboration with Bachchan for
ending TB in India and U.S.-India partnership among others. Speaking live
to viewers, Ambassador Verma thanked Bachchan “for his dedication to support
the cause and for sharing his story as a TB survivor to reduce the stigma
associated with TB.”
“Together we can
save more lives and remove the burden this disease places on families,
communities, corporations, and India,” said Ambassador Verma referencing the
high rates of TB-related deaths in India.
Before the live
chat, the U.S. Ambassador also presented an award to Mr. Bachchan on behalf of
the U.S. Embassy in recognition of his efforts and support to the U.S.-India
partnership for the TB-free India campaign.
Thanking Ambassador
Verma for the recognition, Mr. Bachchan said, “Last year, Ambassador Verma
initiated this campaign around the fight to end TB in India, and it was a
privilege to know him personally and to work with him and his team closely. I
am presently an ambassador for TB eradication in India for the campaign ‘TB
Harega Desh Jitega’ and am a TB survivor.
He further said
that It is inspiring that India and the U.S. are natural partners with a long
history of collaboration on TB prevention, treatment, research, and cure, and I
hope to continue to do my bit in this partnership to end TB in India.”
Ambassador Verma and Amitabh Bachchan first came together to work on TB
during the “Mumbai Dialogue: Towards a TB-free India” event organized in Mumbai
on September 10, 2015. The professional engagement soon developed into a
personal relationship with the two exchanging letters, updates, and sharing a
stage around the common cause of TB. On March 7 last year, Bachchan
flew to Delhi to attend a reception hosted by Ambassador Verma at his
residence, the Roosevelt House, to commemorate World TB Day. Bachchan attended
the reception as “TB Brand Ambassador” and a TB survivor.
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