World Hepatitis Day, observed annually on July 28th, stands as a powerful global initiative to raise awareness and combat the challenges posed by hepatitis. The day’s primary focus is to educate people worldwide about this liver-affecting disease and to address the alarming statistics that reveal a death from hepatitis or related conditions every 30 seconds on a global scale.
Hepatitis is caused by various strains of the virus, including Type A, B, C, D, and E, each with distinct characteristics in terms of origin, transmission, and severity. While immunization can prevent some types of hepatitis, there is currently no cure for the disease. The symptoms can vary, with some individuals showing no signs at all, underscoring the need for heightened awareness and early detection.
On World Hepatitis Day, numerous health campaigns and events are organized to spread knowledge and information about the disease, emphasizing preventive measures to safeguard individuals and communities. By empowering people with knowledge and promoting vaccination, the ultimate goal is to control the spread of hepatitis and enhance global public health.
One of the significant strains of hepatitis is Hepatitis B, which can cause acute or chronic infections and poses a high risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. This strain spreads through contact with infected body fluids like blood, saliva, vaginal fluids, and semen, and can also be transmitted from a mother to her baby during childbirth.
Fortunately, there exists a safe and effective vaccine for Hepatitis B, providing nearly 100% protection against the virus. The vaccine is typically administered soon after birth, followed by booster shots, and plays a crucial role in preventing the transmission of the disease.
World Hepatitis Day holds particular importance in regions with a high burden of hepatitis infections, such as the WHO Western Pacific and African Regions. The day focuses on a specific theme each year to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, and various events like campaigns, seminars, and lectures are organized globally to foster greater knowledge and understanding of the disease.
The journey towards eliminating hepatitis from its roots is ongoing, and World Hepatitis Day serves as a crucial milestone in this endeavor. It aims to encourage diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease, focusing on factors like raising awareness about the different types of hepatitis, reinforcing prevention and control measures, promoting vaccination drives against Hepatitis B, and fostering a united global response against the disease.
Originally observed on May 19, World Hepatitis Day was moved to July 28 in 2010. The World Hepatitis Alliance was founded in 2007, and the first community-organized World Hepatitis Day took place in 2008, following the decision by the World Health Assembly to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Baruch Samuel Blumberg. Dr. Blumberg, a Nobel-prize winning scientist, made significant contributions to the discovery of Hepatitis B in the 1960s, developing diagnostic tests and vaccines for the virus.
With its roots in the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg, World Hepatitis Day serves as a rallying call to strengthen national and international efforts against hepatitis, engaging individuals, partners, and the public in actions to address this global health challenge. It highlights the urgency for a stronger global response to eliminate hepatitis, as emphasized in the WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report of 2017. Addressing the gaps in testing and treatment coverage is of paramount importance to achieve the ambitious global elimination goals set for 2030.