GLOBAL COMMUNITY CELEBRATES WORLD HEPATITIS DAY

Every year, the global community celebrates World Hepatitis Day to draw peoples’ attention to the importance of eliminating Hepatitis in the society.

The annual commemoration of the day is usually organised by the the United Nations and the World Hepatitis Alliance, who work with individuals and community groups to promote awareness by raising campaigns worldwide about hepatitis.

World Hepatitis Day is commemorated annually on July 28 to promote awareness of hepatitis, a disease that affects the liver, and to encourage prevention and treatment.

Hepatitis is a term used to describe the inflammation of the liver as a result of viral infection or exposure to harmful or toxic substances such as drugs or alcohol.

World Viral hepatitis infection affects about 400 million people worldwide, which is more than 10 times the number of people affected by HIV. Yet at present, just one in 20 people with viral hepatitis know they are infected, and only one in 100 with the disease is being treated.

While some types of hepatitis will pass without causing permanent damage to the liver, chronic cases can cause cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer.

According to the UN Health agency, the World Health Organisation, more than 680,000 people die annually due to complications of hepatitis B, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, and approximately 700 000 people die each year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases.

In developing countries with poor sanitary conditions and hygienic practices, about 90% of children have been infected with the hepatitis A virus before the age of 10.

WHO estimated that 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B.

In 2013, an estimated 1.45 million people died of the disease, up from less than 500,000 people in 1990.

According to the Director General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Margaret Chan, the world has ignored hepatitis at its peril, and it is now time to mobilize a global response to hepatitis on the scale similar to the one generated to fight other communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

With better understanding of its prevention, timely interventions and adequate treatment, thousands of lives could be saved every year.

There is a vaccine and treatment for hepatitis B, and none for hepatitis C, but the antiviral medication has made it possible to cure 90% of patients within two to three months.

The Theme for this year's World Hepatitis Day is '' Hepatitis Elimination: It's up to you''.

NAHIMAT