World Hepatitis Day: Reduce new hepatitis infections by 90pc

World Health Organisation’s global hepatitis strategy, endorsed by all WHO Member States, aims to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90 per cent and deaths by 65 per cent between 2016 and 2030.

On the 2019 edition of World Hepatitis Day – the Day is marked on 29 July – WHO ins calling on all countries to “invest in eliminating hepatitis” through costing, budgeting and financing of elimination services within their universal health coverage plans.

While there has been broad support among WHO Member States in adopting the WHO hepatitis elimination strategy, with 124 out of 194 countries developing hepatitis plans, over 40 per cent of country plans lack dedicated budget lines to support elimination efforts.

There are five types of viral hepatitis infections – A, B, C, D and E.

Over 95 per cent of deaths are caused by chronic hepatitis B and C infections, while hepatitis A and E rarely cause life-threatening illnesses. Hepatitis D is an additional infection occurring in people living with hepatitis B.

(UNI)