According to the World Hepatitis Alliance, around 350 million people around the world are afflicted with viral hepatitis—9 out of 10 of which aren’t even aware of their diagnosis. This only underscores how important it is to understand what hepatitis is and for more people to be aware of its symptoms in case they or their loved ones may contract this disease.
Here’s a quick overview of what hepatitis is as well as the efforts being made to spread awareness about its symptoms and possible treatments.
About Hepatitis
Hepatitis refers to the inflammation of the liver, which, if left untreated, can lead to more serious health complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. There are five known types of hepatitis, namely hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Each differs in severity, how it is transmitted, and available treatment options.
For instance, hepatitis A can be prevented through vaccination. Meanwhile, hepatitis B and C are the most common types, with the former being preventable through vaccines and the latter treatable using antiviral medicines. Hepatitis D only occurs to people who are infected by the hepatitis B virus, while hepatitis E is caused by drinking contaminated water and is thus more likely to infect those living in areas with inadequate clean water supply.
Symptoms of hepatitis can also vary, with some individuals not even exhibiting any of the usual symptoms at all. Some symptoms include nausea, fever, abdominal pain, dark-colored urine, and jaundice—a condition when the skin and whites of your eyes start to yellow. Many people tend to ignore these symptoms, thus missing their chance for treatment until the disease has become much more severe or even fatal. Hence, the need for awareness hepatitis campaigns and spreading information about the disease is important, with the biggest campaign being World Hepatitis Day.
World Hepatitis Day
There are many ways to spread awareness about hepatitis. Some choose to wear red-and-yellow silicone bracelets, the designated colors for hepatitis awareness. Similarly, health-care facilities continue to push for testing and vaccination for treatment. Whether small or big, all efforts contribute to getting more people to take the first step toward getting diagnosed. This call to action is what drives this year’s World Hepatitis Day.
With the theme “It’s time for action,” the World Hepatitis Day 2024 emphasizes the collaborative effort among health care institutions, governments, and local organizations to make testing and treatment options more accessible, especially in low and middle-income countries. After all, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that around 560,000 deaths are caused by hepatitis B and C alone every year—many of which could have been prevented if only more people were aware of their condition earlier and sought treatment.
Raising Awareness
To encourage people to get tested for hepatitis, one must first identify the barriers that prevent them from doing so. The World Hepatitis Alliance pointed out several factors why those with hepatitis often go undiagnosed. These are the lack of public knowledge about hepatitis itself, lacking knowledge among health-care professionals, inaccessible testing options, the cost of getting the tests, and the stigma surrounding hepatitis.
To eliminate these barriers, health-care institutions are encouraged to conduct information campaigns on hepatitis through putting up educational bulletins, promoting testing, allotting funds to research on more cost-effective treatment, and conducting vaccination drives, especially to those in remote areas. Seminars conducted by medical professionals on how to spot the signs of hepatitis, as well as stories of those afflicted by or have been cured from the disease, are also part of most community events during World Hepatitis Day.
In addition, citizens are encouraged to lobby their local government officials about having more accessible and affordable hepatitis testing and treatment options available for the community. This ensures that the knowledge about hepatitis and treatment initiatives continue to be passed on and benefit people.
How To Participate
In this age of social media, there are many ways for interested individuals to participate in World Hepatitis Day. In fact, the campaign’s website itself has a section dedicated to one-minute actions, which are small steps you can take to help spread awareness. One of which includes engaging with the hashtag #WorldHepatitisDay to read or join conversations about the disease.
Even just sharing infographics that encourage people to ask their doctor about hepatitis testing and vaccination can spur someone out there to take action. Do your own research as well to better understand how to protect yourself from getting hepatitis and how to take care of loved ones who may have it.
WHO’s global hepatitis strategy aims to significantly reduce new infections and deaths by hepatitis in 2030. Various hepatitis awareness campaigns such as the World Hepatitis Day are among the steps being taken to fulfill that goal. You too can be a part of the fight against hepatitis. By educating yourself about hepatitis prevention and passing on the knowledge, you can contribute toward eliminating hepatitis in your own way.
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