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. The World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress towards eliminating viral hepatitis. In addition, allows the reflection on gaps and needs in the joint efforts towards the elimination of viral hepatitis; 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: "It’s time for action." World Hepatitis Day 2024. With a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness, we must accelerate action on better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to save lives and improve health outcomes. There are 5 main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D, and E. Together, hepatitis B and C are the most common infections and result in 1.3 million deaths and 2.2 million new infections per year. Despite better tools for diagnosis and treatment, and decreasing product prices, testing and treatment coverage rates have stalled. But, reaching the WHO elimination goal by 2030 should still be achievable, if swift action is taken now. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #worldhepatitisday, #28July, #hepatitis, #by2030.
EVENTS: On July 28th; The World Hepatitis Day 2024 will be held online 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).
On July 29th, from 12:30 – 14:30 pm (CEST), the WHO is organizing a global webinar on the campaign theme It's time for action, and sub-theme Global hepatitis response: Closing the gap towards the 2030 elimination goals. This broad theme highlights the fact that progress, as well as action, have stalled and that the global health community needs to get back on track toward viral hepatitis elimination by 2030. This global webinar will provide spotlights and country progress on access from communities, and partners, as well as new approaches for increased case finding for hepatitis B and C and for transforming the hepatitis B response to a public health approach. It will feature high level international and national leaders with participation of Ministers of Health, national programme managers and policy makers, UN organizations, implementation agencies and regional and country office colleagues as well as civil society and people with lived experience and other partners. It is time for action to accelerate the reduction in new hepatitis infections, stem the decreasing mortality and aid countries in achieving the goal of elimination by 2030. Register here!
On July 25th; As part of the activities, the WHO/Europe will host a webinar focusing on the new recommendations for hepatitis B, including the broader eligibility for treatment and how countries are planning to implement these changes in their national programmes. Webinar registration.
On July 25th; As part of the activities, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (EDT, Washington D.C.), the PAHO will held a webinar; Our regional effort to eliminate viral hepatitis is strategically aligned with PAHO's Communicable Disease Elimination Initiative. This initiative represents a significant opportunity for governments, communities, and stakeholders to join forces and work together to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030. The World Hepatitis Day also seeks to highlight the support of key stakeholders in this effort, as well as to share good practices and experiences from PAHO Member States. Read the agenda programme and watch the livestream!
Statements: Statement from Dr. Tedros on World Hepatitis Day 2024; 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: "It’s time for action." World Hepatitis Day 2024. The hepatitis B; C; D infections are responsible for over 95% of hepatitis deaths. Check back soon for the latest campaign materials, resources, and information on how you can get involved. Together, we can make hepatitis elimination a reality; 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.