World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day is observed on 28th July in the memory and respect of Dr. Baruch Samuel Blumberg, person who identified Hepatitis B Virus and later developed its diagnostic test and vaccine.

The aim of observing this day is to raise global awareness of Hepatitis and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Theme of World Hepatitis day in 2016 is Elimination by 2030.

How do we Achieve this – 3 important steps

1 – Prevention
2 – Diagnosis
3 – Counselling positive patients
4 – Treatment

1. Prevention

• Educating the public and health care workers about these viruses and their modes of spread and ill effects caused by these viruses.
• Awareness campaigns to be done continuously .
• Vaccinations are available for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
• Encourage everyone to get vaccinated for Hepatitis B.
• Hepatitis A vaccination for special population.

2. Diagnosis

• All viral Hepatitis can be diagnosed by simple blood tests.
• Voluntary testing should be encouraged for Hep B and Hep C.
• Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C doesn’t cause any symptoms, hence every individual should be screened for these viruses to identify the existing patient population.

3. Counselling

• All patients with these chronic viruses should be counselled regarding the modes of spread and ill effects of these viruses if untreated.

4. Treatment

• Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E doesn’t need any specific therapy most of the time.
• Hepatitis B is a treatable disease and identifying patients who need treatment should be done by a hepatologist. all patients with Hepatitis should be under regular followup with a hepatologist.
• Hepatitis C is the only chronic virus which can be cured. with the availability of new antiviral drugs, the cure rates have increased to 95 – 99%.