World Hepatitis Day

Today, July 28th, marks World Hepatitis Day, a day created to help raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and influence real change. The theme of this year’s World Hepatitis Day is ‘I Can’t Wait’, which is focused on the need to accelerate hepatitis elimination efforts and emphasize the importance of testing and treatment.

In 2016, a global initiative was put forth by the World Health Organization to eliminate the threat of viral hepatitis by 2030. However, despite this, 325 million people still live with hepatitis globally and more than 1.1 million lives are lost each year to hepatitis B and hepatitis C. As a result:

• People unaware they are living with viral hepatitis can’t wait for testing

• People living with hepatitis can’t wait for life saving treatments

• Pregnant 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

• Decision makers can’t wait and must act now to make hepatitis elimination a reality through political will and funding.

For more information about this year’s World Hepatitis Day and how you can get involved, visit their website at https://www.worldhepatitisday.org/.

- Courtney