Today (28th July ) is World Hepatitis Day, an annual event started by the World Hepatitis Alliance, in 2008 to raise awareness about hepatitis in order to better prevent its spread and improve treatment and access to treatment.
What is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection.
There are five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Viral Hepatitis are of greatest concern in country like India, because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread.
2021 THEME- HEP-CAN’T WAIT
With a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis related illness – even in the current COVID-19 crisis – we CAN’T WAIT to act on viral hepatitis.
- People living with viral hepatitis unaware CAN’T WAIT for testing
- People living with hepatitis CAN’T WAIT for life saving treatments
- Expectant mothers CAN’T WAIT for hepatitis screening and treatment
- Newborn babies CAN’T WAIT for birth dose vaccination
- People affected by hepatitis CAN’T WAIT to end stigma and discrimination
- Community organisations CAN’T WAIT for greater investment
- Decision makers CAN’T WAIT and must act now to make hepatitis elimination a reality through political will and funding
What makes viral Hepatitis a major health problem?
Chronic hepatitis B and C are life-threatening infectious diseases that cause serious liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer, and premature death. More than 300 million people are living with the hepatitis B or C virus.
Hepatitis B and C are silent epidemics, hitting children and young populations. High risk population for acquiring hepatitis B or C virus include people who inject drugs, Indigenous Peoples, prisoners, men who have sex with men, migrants and people living with HIV/AIDs.
Globally, 90% of people living with hepatitis B and 80% living with hepatitis C are unaware they are living with the disease. Silent hepatitis B or C pose the real possibility of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer at some point in their lives and unknowingly transmitting the infection to others.
With the availability of effective vaccines and treatments for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C, the elimination of viral hepatitis is achievable, but greater awareness and understanding of the disease and the risks is a must, as is access to cheaper diagnostics and treatment. In 2015, viral hepatitis was included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in 2016 the world’s first global hepatitis strategy to eliminate the disease was ratified.
5 Things you didn’t know about viral Hepatitis
- Hepatitis B and C kill more people annually than HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB
- Hepatitis B and C are responsible for 2 out 3 liver cancer deaths
- 300 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware
- Birth dose vaccine costs as low as 15 rupees yet isn’t used in 48% of countries worldwide
- Eliminating hepatitis B and hepatitis C as public health threats by 2030 would prevent approximately 36 million infections and save 10 million lives
