World Hepatitis Day 2023: World Hepatitis Day is a public health holiday celebrated annually to raise awareness about hepatitis, a group of infectious liver diseases that affect people worldwide. The day also promotes testing and prevention for the A, B, C, D, and E forms of the disease. Did you know that the World Hepatitis Alliance was founded on this date in 2008, but that it was initially held on May 19? In 2010, the date was changed to July 28 to honour the birthdate of Baruch Samuel Blumberg, an American physician who discovered hepatitis B in the 1960s and eventually won a Nobel Prize for his research on the virus and its vaccine.
World Hepatitis Day 2023: Activities
Get examined
On World Hepatitis Day, get tested because you may be oblivious of your infection. It is a straightforward blood test that can be performed at your doctor’s office or local health centre. Encourage your peers and family to take the test after you have taken it yourself.
Attend an event
On 28 July, World Hepatitis Day, numerous health organisations and affiliates host events to raise awareness of the infection. Attend concerts, rallies, and pop-up tests, among other events. Explore the World Hepatitis Day website to locate a local event.
Or, organise your own public awareness
No problem if you cannot locate an event near you! Take the initiative to organise a run/walk, happy hour, or a meal for fundraising purposes. You can download campaign materials, toolkits, and other resources from the World Hepatitis Day website. Therefore, let’s get the party begun!
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WHY WORLD HEPATITIS DAY IS IMPORTANT
Hepatitis is not one of those diseases that only affects certain populations or regions of the world; anyone can contract it. It is estimated that approximately 400 million persons worldwide are infected with hepatitis. Hepatitis can be transmitted through blood contact or sexual contact. It is transmissible from mother to offspring. Because of this, hepatitis can affect individuals in regions where little is known about the impact of unsafe sexual practises or substance abuse. Hepatitis, if left untreated, can result in hazardous and sometimes fatal liver diseases.
The positive news is that significant progress has been made in preventing and treating hepatitis in the past century. There are vaccines available for both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. In developing nations, these vaccinations are administered routinely to children at a young age. Hepatitis C is simple to treat, while hepatitis D and E are uncommon.
Nearly 90% of those afflicted with hepatitis are unaware of their infection. The World Hepatitis Alliance has set the ambitious objective of eliminating viral hepatitis as a hazard to public health by 2030. With your assistance, this goal is attainable.
