World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day, 19th May 2009
World Hepatitis Day on May 19, 2009 will be focusing on, and raising awareness of viral hepatitis for the more than 500 million people worldwide – that’s one in every 12 people on the planet, affected by viral hepatitis B or C. World Hepatitis Day coincides with Australia’s National Hepatitis Week, May 18 – 24.
Hepatitis Australia CEO, Helen Tyrrell, is the Australasian representative of the World Hepatitis Alliance. Members listed below:
World Health Organization Endorsement of World Hepatitis Day.
The World Hepatitis Alliance is delighted to announce that in response to the efforts of the World Hepatitis Alliance, patient groups from Brazil and China, with the support of China, Oman and Afghanistan; viral hepatitis has been added to the agenda of the 62nd Annual World Health Assembly in May.
12 Asks for viral hepatitis
Governments around the world are being asked to sign up for the ‘12 Asks’ for viral hepatitis by 2012.
The ’12 Asks’ are a series of requests for commitment from policy makers to recognise the impact of the disease and the importance of adopting measures that address the issue from a public health perspective. The '12 asks' comprise of six global asks, being put forward to all countries, and six local asks specific to each country.
6 Global asks
1. Public recognition of chronic viral hepatitis as an urgent public health issue
2. The appointment of an individual to lead Government strategy nationally
3. The development of a patient pathway for screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment
4. Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing incidence and prevalence
5. Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing mortality
6. Clear, quantifiable targets for screening
6 Australian asks
7. The establishment of the first national hepatitis B strategy and third national hepatitis C strategy
8. Clear, quantifiable targets for treatment
9. Clear, quantifiable targets to increase access to Needle and Syringe Program services
10. The development of targeted strategies to reduce late diagnosis in key population groups
11. Public understanding of the key aspects of viral hepatitis transmission, prevention and treatment
12. Implementation of prevention, treatment and care guidelines in custodial settings
For more information on World Hepatitis Day, visit www.worldhepatitisday.com
2009 World Hepatitis Day Wrap Up
To see what happened around
the world on World Hepatitis Day
May 19, 2009 click on the
following links:
Activities around the World
World Hepatitis Day in the News
Partners & Supporters/An Award Winning Campaign