Tackling hepatitis

The World Health Organization (WHO) annually celebrates July 28 as World Hepatitis Day. The date was chosen for World Hepatitis Day in honor of the birthday of Nobel laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus, then known as Australia antigen. In fact the World Hepatitis Alliance first launched World Hepatitis Day in 2008. Under the theme of "We're Not Waiting" World Hepatitis Day is being observed throughout the world this year. One life, one liver is also a slogan taken this year. It has become an annual event and provides focus for patient groups and people living with hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and C, which can cause chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Hepatitis B and C are the silent killer. Many people do not know even if they are infected. So, let’s get checked was one of the theme of earlier Hepatitis Day. The WHO has targeted to eliminate hepatitis by the year 2030, but there is a Herculean task ahead.

World Hepatitis Day is one of only four WHO disease specific days. The other three disease specific days are tuberculosis (March 24), malaria (April 25) and AIDS (December 1). World Hepatitis Day provides international focus for patient groups and patients living with viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and C. The WHO and partners mark World Hepatitis Day to increase the awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases caused by hepatitis virus infection.