World Hepatitis Day: Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment
Breaking Down the Barriers: Confronting Viral Hepatitis in South-East Asia
By Dr. catharina Boehme,Officer-in-Charge,WHO South-East Asia
World Hepatitis Day,observed annually on July 28th,serves as a crucial reminder of the global fight against viral hepatitis – a group of infections that inflame the liver,leading to severe liver disease and cancer. This day honors the legacy of Nobel laureate Dr. Baruch Blumberg, whose groundbreaking discovery of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) paved the way for diagnostic tests and a life-saving vaccine.
This year’s theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” is a powerful call to action, urging us to dismantle the financial, social, and systemic obstacles, including pervasive stigma, that hinder hepatitis elimination and the prevention of liver cancer.
In the WHO South-East Asia Region, viral hepatitis continues to inflict immense suffering, silently contributing to liver disease, cancer, and hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year.Our region carries a disproportionately high burden of chronic viral hepatitis globally. An estimated 61 million people live with hepatitis B, and 9 million with hepatitis C. Tragically, the vast majority of those affected remain undiagnosed and untreated.
The devastating consequences are stark: over 260,000 lives are lost annually, many due to preventable complications. Liver cancer, a notably grim outcome, is frequently a direct result of untreated hepatitis B and C infections. With limited access to early diagnosis and treatment, most liver cancer cases in our region are detected at advanced stages, when curative interventions are no longer feasible.
To stem this tide, we must urgently scale up hepatitis testing and treatment services. This necessitates decentralizing these services to primary healthcare settings and simplifying existing guidelines. The tools to combat these infections are readily available: safe and effective hepatitis B vaccines,affordable diagnostics,highly effective hepatitis B medications,and the revolutionary direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medicines that offer a cure for hepatitis C. However, notable challenges persist, including the complexity and fragmentation of service delivery, a lack of services at primary healthcare clinics, low uptake of available services, prohibitive out-of-pocket expenses, limited public awareness, and the persistent shadow of stigma.
A strategic integration of hepatitis services within essential health packages is paramount. We must leverage primary healthcare platforms and align our hepatitis response with existing efforts in maternal and child health, HIV, STIs, TB, non-communicable diseases, blood safety, infection prevention and control, occupational health, and the overarching goal of universal health coverage.prioritizing hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination and ensuring completion of the vaccination schedule, integrating services within safe motherhood programs, expanding harm reduction initiatives, and implementing community-based outreach are critical steps to bridge the equity gap.
Despite these challenges, progress is attainable. Countries across our region are demonstrating innovation by adopting simplified testing and treatment models, integrating hepatitis care into essential service packages, and extending coverage under social health insurance schemes. Moreover, efforts to reach key populations with dignity and compassion are gaining momentum. These vital initiatives require sustained scaling and unwavering political will, backed by robust investment.Together, by embracing the spirit of “Let’s Break It Down,” we can dismantle complexity, end the silence surrounding hepatitis, and fulfill our commitment to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. The path forward demands collective action, innovative solutions, and a steadfast dedication to ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight for liver health.