28 July 2017 is World Hepatitis Day
20 Jul 2017
The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) are raising awareness of hepatitis through World Hepatitis Day. The key theme this year is:
ELIMINATE HEPATITIS
During 2015 approximately 325 million people were living with chronic hepatitis (275 million with hepatitis B and 71 million with hepatitis C); 1.3 million people died from the infection.
Globally 11 countries carry 50% of the burden of disease: Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Uganda and Vietnam.
An additional 17 countries have a high prevalence: Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kyrgystan, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe.
Key messages on Eliminate Hepatitis for policy makers:
- Viral hepatitis is a major global health problem and needs an urgent response
- Very few of those infected accessed testing or treatment especially those in low to middle income countries
- Viral hepatitis caused 1.3 million deaths during 2015
- New hepatitis infections continue to occur, mostly hepatitis C
- The goal of elimination by 2030 is achievable
- A key action to eliminate hepatitis is to prevent spread in healthcare
- Another key action is to implement harm reduction services for those who use and inject drugs.
Key messages to patients to Eliminate Hepatitis:
- Eliminate hepatitis. Prevent hepatitis.
- Eliminate hepatitis. Get tested.
- Eliminate hepatitis. Make injecting safe.
- Eliminate hepatitis. Demand treatment.
Find out more about hepatitis, World Hepatitis Day, the Eliminate Hepatitis campaign and World Hepatitis Alliance ‘Show your face’ campaign using the following links:
