World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is an annual event in the global calendar which takes places on 28th July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and to influence real change through education and advocacy for prevention, testing, and treatment.
One of just four disease-specific global awareness days officially endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), WHD unites healthcare organisations, governments, industry and the general public to boost the profile of viral hepatitis, most recently through the launch of ‘NOhep’; a global movement to eradicate viral hepatitis by 2030.
Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver. It's usually the result of a viral infection or liver damage caused by drinking alcohol.
There are several different types of hepatitis. Some types will pass without any serious problems, while others can be long-lasting (chronic) and cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), loss of liver function and, in some cases, liver cancer.
It is estimated ‘over 350 million people live with viral hepatitis across the World and every 30 seconds, someone loses their life to a hepatitis related illness’ (source: worldhepatitisalliance.org)
Our Executive Director of Public Health, Fiona Kinghorn said:
“There has been considerable progress made in respect to immunisation and treatment of viral Hepatitis in recent years and it is of paramount importance this momentum is maintained.
I’m proud to be an ambassador, overseeing the delivery of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Recovery plan, which details our localised response to mitigate the number of confirmed cases and risk of transmission among our communities.
Using a partnership approach, we have implemented peer support for patients and families through the development of the Cardiff and Vale Hepatitis Support Network, weekly community clinics which offer initial consultation or review and most recently launched our Hepatitis Champions programme which provides harm reduction information, and practical advice and signposting for patients and families.”
For more information regarding hepatitis, please click here and for a more detailed breakdown of signs and symptoms associated with the various types of Hepatitis please visit the NHS pages.