World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day is an opportunity for all to come together and raise awareness in order to promote global action on viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis causes a range of health problems, including liver cancer.
There are five main types of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis B and C lead to chronic disease in millions of people globally, and together are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and viral hepatitis-related deaths.
Many people are living with hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Whereas effective and safe interventions; diagnose, treat, and prevent chronic hepatitis B and C, could save lives and result in healthy living.
Together we can join in bringing hepatitis care closer to all.
The world is currently facing a new outbreak of unexplained acute hepatitis infections affecting children. WHO, together with scientists and policymakers in affected countries, are working to understand the cause of this infection that does not appear to belong to any of the known 5 types of hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E.
This new outbreak brings focus to thousands of acute viral hepatitis infections that occur among children, adolescents, and adults every year. Most acute hepatitis infections cause mild disease and even go undetected. But in some cases, they can lead to complications and be fatal.
Let’s all prioritize the elimination of hepatitis B, C, and D infections.
Unlike acute viral hepatitis, these 3 infections cause chronic hepatitis that lasts for several decades and is responsible for over 95% of hepatitis deaths.
A wake-up call for community intervention especially in rural areas since they lack proper guidance as well as tools to diagnose, treat, and prevent chronic viral hepatitis, these services are often out of reach in such communities and are sometimes only available at centralized/specialized hospitals.
Thus, there is a need for bringing hepatitis care closer to the primary health facilities and communities so that people have better access to treatment and care.
Bringing hepatitis care closer to you aims to raise awareness about the need to simplify and bring hepatitis care to primary health facilities, community-based venues, and locations beyond hospital sites so that care is closer to communities and people wherever they are.
Hepatitis Can’t-Wait.
Know your status:
To achieve hepatitis elimination, people living with hepatitis B and C must be diagnosed and treated.
Ways to protect yourself against hepatitis:
1. Use sterile injections always
2. Use your own razors and blades
3. Practice safe sex
4. Use safe tattooing and piercing equipment
5. Vaccinate infants against Hepatitis B
A wake-up call for all to work together to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030
Recommendations:
– PREVENT infection among newborns. All newborns should be vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth, followed by at least 2 additional doses.
– STOP TRANSMISSION from MOTHER to CHILD. All pregnant women should be routinely tested for hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis and receive treatment if needed.
– LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND. Everyone should have access to hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment services, including people who inject drugs, people in prisons, migrants, and other highly-affected populations.
#WorldHepatitisDay
#WHO
#KatchouaFoundation
#ICantWait
