World Health Organisation (WHO)’s World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is annually celebrated on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, which causes inflammation of the liver that leads to severe disease and liver cancer.
- WHO on World Hepatitis Day 2022 highlighted the need for bringing hepatitis care closer to the primary health facilities and communities so that people have better access to treatment and care.
- Theme for World Hepatitis Day 2022- ‘Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer to You.’
Background:
i.The World Hepatitis Alliance was founded in the year 2007 and the first community-organized World Hepatitis Day was observed in 2008.
ii.The 63rd World Health Assembly held in May 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland adopted various resolutions on a variety of global health issues including the resolution WHA63.17 proclaiming the 28th July of every year as World Hepatitis Day.
Why 28th July?
The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birth anniversary of Nobel-prize-winning scientist Dr Baruch Samuel Blumberg . In 1967, he discovered the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for HBV.
WHO Hepatitis Elimination targets:
It aims to achieve hepatitis elimination by 2030.
To achieve this target, WHO urged the countries to achieve specific interim targets by 2025:
- To reduce new infections of hepatitis B and C by 50%
- To reduce deaths from liver cancer by 40%
- To ensure that 60% of people with hepatitis B and C virus are diagnosed
- To ensure that 50% of those eligible receive appropriate treatment.
About Hepatitis:
i.It refers to inflammation of the liver or the irritation or swelling of the liver cells from any cause. It can be acute or chronic.
ii.It is usually caused by a group of viruses known as the “hepatotropic” (liver-directed) viruses, including A, B, C, D and E.
- Other viruses may also cause it, such as the varicella virus that causes chicken pox. SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19 may injure the liver, too.
iii.Hepatitis A and E are self-limiting diseases and require no specific antiviral medications. While Hepatitis B and C required effective medications.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Headquarters-Geneva, Switzerland
Founded- 1948
Director General- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
