On July 28th, World Hepatitis Day is commemorated to promote awareness of viral hepatitis, a liver inflammation that can lead to serious liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. The day also encourages people to get tested for all five forms of cancer: A, B, C, D, and E. According to the World Hepatitis Alliance, around 500 million individuals worldwide have chronic hepatitis B or C, and one in every three people has been exposed to one or both viruses.
The topic for this year is “Hepatitis Can’t Wait,” which emphasises the necessity of efforts to eradicate hepatitis as a public health hazard by 2030. The Hepatitis Can’t Wait global campaign, which launched in May 2021, emphasises the importance of accelerating hepatitis elimination efforts, particularly during the COVID-19 epidemic. Along with this, it draws attention to the social unfairness and disparity caused by the current lack of action on hepatitis elimination, as well as the constructive steps that must be taken to accomplish 2030 elimination targets.
What is currently being done to spread the word?
Organizations such as the United Nations and the World Hepatitis Alliance collaborate with individuals and community groups around the world to promote hepatitis awareness campaigns. World Hepatitis Day information is typically disseminated through social media, newspapers, posters, and the World Health Organization (WHO) website.
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”
– Elizabeth Andrew
How can you celebrate/ get involved?
WHO (World Health Organisation) is conducting a global chat show to commemorate the day, giving a forum for global, regional, and national leaders, policymakers, communities, and other stakeholders to debate how to speed up the hepatitis response in order to eliminate the disease by 2030.
• Listen to the World Hepatitis Day Podcast
• Learn more about global efforts and collaborations.
• Create a poster/ leaflet to distribute giving more information about hepatitis. Could be in your workplace, place of worship or even local community centre.
• Hold an event to raise awareness about viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis is a disease which impacts so many of us and therefore we need to hear more about it! Whether you have a minute or an hour, there are plenty of ways you can get involved in World Hepatitis Day to make sure the world knows that Hepatitis Can’t Wait.
“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Toni is an Administrative Personal Assistant and Business Executive, who loves travelling, health and beauty, lifestyle and business. She regularly spends her time multitasking.
