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.
World Hepatitis Day, 28 July, is an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis, encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public and highlight the need for a greater global response as outlined in the WHO's Global hepatitis report of 2017.
The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
The theme of World Hepatitis Day 2022 is Bringing hepatitis care closer to communities.
WHO aims to achieve hepatitis elimination by 2030. To get there, WHO calls on 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
- 50% of those eligible receive appropriate treatment
References
World Health Organization (WHO). World Hepatitis Day
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