The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the public to get tested and treated for Hepatitis.
This as the world observes World Hepatitis Day today.
“The World Hepatitis Day 2026 theme: 'Hepatitis: Let’s break it down', is a call to remove the barriers that stand between people and the services that can save their lives. Viral Hepatitis continues to be a major cause of preventable illness and death worldwide.
“The tools needed to eliminate viral Hepatitis already exist. Effective vaccines, accurate diagnostics, curative treatments for Hepatitis C, and lifelong therapies for Hepatitis B can prevent infections, save lives, and reduce liver cancer and cirrhosis,” the WHO said on its website.
The organisation noted that despite the availability of treatments, “millions of people remain undiagnosed, untreated, or unable to access care due to stigma, limited awareness, health system gaps, and persistent inequalities”.
“The 2026 campaign calls for turning proven science into action through stronger political commitment, sustained investment, and efforts to expand equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care,” the public health agency said.
The public is urged to:
- Get tested for Hepatitis B and C.
- Promote routine Hepatitis B testing in Antenatal care setting and antiviral prophylaxis where needed, as part of triple elimination of HIV, hepatitis and syphilis.
- Vaccinate newborns with universal timely hepatitis B birth dose within 24 hours and ensure completion of childhood vaccination series.
- Learn the facts and talk to your healthcare provider about early testing and treatment.
- Help stop stigma by sharing accurate information.
What is Hepatitis?
The WHO describes Hepatitis as an “inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents”.
This can lead to serious illness including severe liver damage and cancer, which can cause death.
There are five main strains virus known as types A, B, C, D and E.
“While they can all cause liver disease, they differ in important ways including modes of transmission, severity of the illness, geographical distribution and prevention methods.
“In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and together are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths. They are among the main infectious disease killers, causing an estimated 1.3 million deaths per year,” the health agency said.
Some 304 million people worldwide live with Hepatitis B or C, and for most, “testing and treatment remain beyond reach”.
The WHO’s Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (2022–2030) aims to reduce new infections to just over 500 000 per year and reduce deaths to 450 000 by 2030.
“Without urgent and sustained action, however, viral Hepatitis is projected to cause an additional 9.5 million new infections, 2.1 million liver cancer cases, and 2.8 million deaths by 2030.
“These outcomes are largely preventable through the scale-up of Hepatitis B vaccination, improved access to prevention, testing and treatment for Hepatitis B and C, and targeted public education campaigns to raise awareness and reduce transmission,” the WHO urged. – SAnews.gov.za
