World Hepatitis Day 2024
25 Jul 2024
World Hepatitis Day takes place on 28 July each year to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence change.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection. Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E are the five main types of hepatitis viruses. These five types cause the most illness and deaths and have the greatest potential to cause outbreaks of disease.
Hepatitis is a global health problem. According to the World Hepatitis Alliance:
- Anyone can be affected by hepatitis, but those living in regions with ineffective healthcare systems are unfairly impacted.
- Over 300 million people in the world are living with hepatitis.
- 1.3 million people lose their lives to hepatitis each year, and the number of deaths is rising.
- Every hepatitis-related death is preventable thanks to existing services to prevent, test for and treat hepatitis
- 9 in 10 people don’t even know they are living with hepatitis
The theme for the 2024 global campaign is ' It’s time for action’ which aims to:
- raise awareness of viral hepatitis and communicate the need for action now
- highlight the social unfairness caused by the current lack of global action to end hepatitis
- help people and communities affected by viral hepatitis to be heard, demand action and fight discrimination associated with hepatitis
- celebrate the global community fighting hepatitis around the world
- call on policymakers, decision makers and global funders to join the fight to eliminate hepatitis
See the World Hepatitis Alliance website for further information on how you can get involved with the World Hepatitis Day 2024 campaign.
Further information is available via fitfortravel on: