World Hepatitis Day takes places year on 28 July to raise awareness and promote global action on viral hepatitis. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. There are five main types of the hepatitis virus- A, B, C, D and E. hepatitis B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people globally, and together are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis related deaths. As of 2019, an estimated 116 million people in the Western Pacific are living with hepatitis B and 10 million with hepatitis C. While there are evidence-based, effective and safe interventions to diagnose, treat and prevent chronic hepatitis B and C, most people remain undiagnosed and untreated. In the Western Pacific, only 18% of people living with hepatitis B have been diagnosed and 5% have received treatment. For hepatitis C, 25% of people have been diagnosed and 10% have received treatment.
This year’s theme for World Hepatitis Day is, “bringing hepatitis care closer to you”, aims to raise awareness about the need to simplify and bring hepatitis care to primary health facilities, community-bases venues and locations beyond hospital sites, so that care is closer to communities and people wherever they are. Viral hepatitis is a systemic infection affecting predominantly the liver and causing inflammation. It may be acute or chronic. The new Global Health Sector Strategies on, respectively, HIV, viral Hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections for the period 2022-2030 emphasizes the importance of person-centred care and alignment of systems and integration of services to reach the goal of elimination by 2030. To achieve hepatitis elimination at least 60% of people living with hepatitis B and C must be diagnosed and at least 50% eligible for treatment must be cured (hepatitis C) or receiving treatment (hepatitis B) by 2025. Public health activities to control viral hepatitis have progressively increased over the past three decades. In 1990s, the World Health Assembly first recommended the inclusion of hepatitis B vaccines in routine infant immunization schedules. Hepatitis B vaccine given shortly after birth prevents HBV infection that occurs early in life. HBV infection acquired during infancy carries a greater risk of death later in life from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Coverage of immunization against HBV increased from the early 2000s with support from the global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI, now known as the Vaccine Alliance), and optimized procurement in the American Region through the revolving fund. By 2010, there was growing public awareness of the public health burden of viral hepatitis. However, there were major gaps in the response and mortality was increasing. In 2010, the World Health Assembly adopted the first resolution on viral hepatitis, which led to new revolutionary treatments for HCV infection, which improved treatment outcomes. A second resolution in 2014 further underlined the public health importance of viral hepatitis, and raised the possibility of elimination of HBV and HCV. Edu World believes in the holistic development of their students and management. We never take chance when it come to the question of quality. We provide proper awareness about such communicable diseases so that our future generation stay safe and increases productivity.
