WORLD HEPATITIS DAY 2017
The theme for this year’s global campaign is ELIMINATION.
WHO Member States are set to adopt ambitious targets and a goal to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Following are the key messages
Know hepatitis – Act now
Globally, about 1.4 million people die each year from hepatitis. It is estimated that only 5% of people with chronic hepatitis know of their infection, and less than 1% have access to treatment.
Yet, hepatitis is fully preventable and treatable: there are effective vaccines and treatments. The vision of eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 can be achieved, if people and countries affected by this disease were better equipped and enabled to “know hepatitis” and “act now”.
Know hepatitis – Are you at risk?
Anyone could be at risk of hepatitis
Hepatitis B and C infections are transmitted through contaminated blood, contaminated needles and syringes, through unsafe sex and from an infected mother to her newborn child.
Know hepatitis – Get tested
An estimated 95% of people with hepatitis are unaware of their infection, in part due to a lack of awareness and lack of access to testing services in countries.
WHO will release its first hepatitis testing guidelines in 2016. The guidelines will provide guidance on who should be tested, and will recommend simple testing strategies to help country efforts to scale up hepatitis testing, treatment and care.
Know hepatitis – Demand treatment
Over 90% of people with hepatitis C can be completely cured of the virus within 3–6 months.
Appropriate treatment of hepatitis B and C can prevent the development of the major life-threatening complications of chronic liver disease: cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Source:- http://www.who.int/campaigns/hepatitis-day/2016/messages/en/