PURPOSE: The World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes places every year on 28 July in bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change. WHO events and activities can aim to achieve the following objectives globally, in regions and in countries: To support scale-up of hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment and care services, with specific focus on promoting WHO testing and treatment recommendations; To showcase best practices and promote universal health coverage of hepatitis services; and To improve partnerships and funding in the fight against viral hepatitis
FORUM: "One life, one liver." World Hepatitis Day 2023. Over one million hepatitis-related deaths every single year– and one new chronic infection every ten seconds. And that’s whyliver health is fundamental to human health. So many hepatitis deaths could be prevented. Because there are vaccines and effective treatments for hepatitis B and even a cure for hepatitis C - you CAN protect yourself and your loved ones. Speak to your local healthcare provider to find out how to protect yourself from hepatitis. The WHO is highlighting the need for bringing hepatitis care closer to the primary health facilities and communities so that people have better access to treatment and care, no matter what type of hepatitis they may have. The WHO and its partners aims to achieve hepatitis elimination by 2030. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #worldhepatitisday, #28July, #hepatitis, #by2030.
EVENTS: The World Hepatitis Day 2023 will be held online on July 28th from 13:00 – 15:00 CET. The webinar will feature WHO leaders and high-profile speakers in a multi-stakeholder discussion to share country examples and solutions that highlight the importance of the liver for a healthy life and the need to scale up viral hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment to optimize liver health, prevent liver disease and achieve the 2030 hepatitis elimination. It will highlight the importance of a public health elimination approach and upcoming complementary guidelines update that has the potential to change the trajectory of the hepatitis B response. Hosted by the World Hepatitis Alliance, the World Heath Organization (WHO), the WHO/PAHO; the WHO Europe, the WHO SEARO, the WHO EMRO, the WHO WPRO and the WHO African Regional offices with the participation of the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC). One of the key features of the event will be highlights from the second and updated 2023 version of the country elimination validation guidance which incorporates the lessons and feedback from the implementation pilot conducted in all WHO regions, as well as experiences from other countries. This revised guidance establishes for the first time a global criterion for Path to Elimination (PTE) for hepatitis B and C for Members States that have made significant progress towards viral elimination but have challenges achieving 2030 targets due to a high baseline burden or absolute targets of incidence or mortality. Register to participate and Get the flyer!
Statements: Statement from Dr. Tedros on World Hepatitis Day 2023; July 28th.
PODCASTS: Global efforts prioritize the elimination of infections of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis D infections. Unlike acute viral hepatitis, these 3 infections cause chronic hepatitis that lasts for several decades and culminate in over 1 million deaths per year from cirrhosis and liver cancer. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: '' Its time to act.'' The hepatitis B; C; D infections are responsible for over 95% of hepatitis deaths. Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
ACTIONS
PARTNERS
WHO calls on countries to achieve specific targets:
Reduce new infections of hepatitis B and C by 90%;
Reduce hepatitis related deaths from liver cirrhosis and cancer by 65%;
Ensure that at least 90% of people with hepatitis B and C virus are diagnosed; and
At least 80% of those eligible receive appropriate treatment.
Explore the WHO Global Activities
The World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, which causes inflammation of the liver that leads to severe disease and liver cancer. 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 on thousands of acute viral hepatitis infections that occur among children, adolescents and adults every year.
The World Hepatitis Day is Hosted by the WHO headquarters; The WHO African Region; The WHO Region of the Americas; The WHO South-East Asia Region; The WHO European Region; The WHO Western Pacific Region.
With the Participation of the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination; The International Association of Hepatitis Task Forces; The World Hepatitis Alliance. and many others.