KATHMANDU, JULY 28
The World Health Organisation has urged policymakers, health care providers and political and civil society leaders in the South-East Asia Region and globally to accelerate hepatitis testing and treatment, recognising that everyone, everywhere has just 'One life' and 'one liver' - the theme of this year's event. WHO South-East Asia Region has 11 member countries, including Nepal.
Globally, an estimated 354 million people live with chronic hepatitis B and C and nearly 1.1 million die annually from hepatitis-related complications such as liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Hundreds of millions of people with hepatitis remain unaware of their status. This is the reason why it has been considered the 'silent killer' for decades.
Safe and effective vaccines can prevent hepatitis B and antiviral drugs can manage chronic hepatitis B and cure most cases of hepatitis C. However, in order to meet the target of Sustainable Development Goals to achieve these outcomes and eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, access to prompt and accurate testing is required.
"The South-East Asia Region accounts for 20 per cent of the global hepatitis mortality burden.
An estimated 81 per cent of all hepatitis deaths in the region are attributed to hepatitis B and C. An estimated 60 million people live with chronic hepatitis B and about 10.5 million live with chronic hepatitis C. Every year, the region sees almost half-a-million new hepatitis B and C infections - about one every minute," read a press release issued by New Delhi-based WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 29, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
