World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day takes place on 28 July each year to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis.

Every 30 seconds, a person dies from a hepatitis related illness:

• Hepatitis B and C kill more people annually than HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB
• Hepatitis B and C are responsible for 2 out of 3 liver cancer deaths
• 290 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware
• The cost of hepatitis B vaccines for new born babies is minimal, yet they still aren’t given to babies in 48% of countries worldwide
• Eliminating hepatitis B and C as public health threats by 2030 would prevent approximately 36 million infections and save 10 million lives

The theme for the 2021 global campaign is 'Hepatitis can’t wait' highlighting that increased efforts to accelerate hepatitis elimination by 2030 are required especially during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• those unware they are living with viral hepatitis can’t wait for testing
• those living with hepatitis can’t wait for life saving treatments
• pregnant women can’t wait for hepatitis screening and treatment
• new born babies can’t wait for birth dose vaccination
• those living with hepatitis can’t wait for stigma and discrimination to end
• community hepatitis support organisations can’t wait for more investment
• decision makers can’t wait and must act now to prioritise hepatitis elimination through political will and funding

See the World Hepatitis Alliance website for further information on how you can get involved with the World Hepatitis Day 2021 campaign