New WHO Hepatitis B Treatment Guidelines and other news

In this news update you will find:

New WHO Hepatitis B Treatment Guidelines

WHO released new Guidelines on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection at the 2024 Asian Pacific Conference for the Study of Liver Disease (APASL) in Kyoto, Japan. These guidelines provide a substantial simplification and expansion of eligibility for treatment to overcome barriers in access to hepatitis B testing and treatment.

The new guidelines provide updated evidence-based recommendations on priority hepatitis B-related topics from the 2015 WHO Guidelines for the care and treatment of persons diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B infection and the 2017 WHO Guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing. 

Find out more

Read the Guidelines

WHO 2024 Global Hepatitis Report shows deaths from viral hepatitis are increasing globally

According to WHO's 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, the number of lives lost due to viral hepatitis is increasing. Viral hepatitis is the second leading cause of death due to infectious disease, globally.

New data from 187 countries show that the estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022. Of these, 83% were caused by hepatitis B, and 17% by hepatitis C. Every day, there are 3500 people dying globally due to hepatitis B and C infections.

In the Western Pacific Region, which accounts for 47% of hepatitis B deaths, treatment coverage stands at 23% among people diagnosed, which is far too low to reduce mortality.

Find out more.

Read the report.

Job Listings in the Hepatitis Community Sector

Several State and Territory Community Hepatitis Organisations are currently hiring. Follow the links to find out more about the job roles and apply.

Hepatitis B Research Showcase

HepBcommunity.org are seeking participants to complete a survey as part of a research study.

HepBCommunity want to encourage more conversations between the scientific and affected communities so that we can all learn from each other.

To do this, they are inviting hepatitis B researchers around the world to showcase their research. They welcome research of all kinds: basic, translational, clinical, public health, social science, etc.

  • Researchers will describe why their research is important, how they do it, and what’s exciting about it in a thread on HepBcommunity.
  • Forum members will have the opportunity to ask researchers questions about their research. The best questions will be in the running to win a $100 USD gift card.

Forum members will also be able to cast votes to decide on the most engaging researchers, who will have the chance at winning a $250 USD gift card.

Find out more

Harm reduction measures recognised for the first time at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

Australia was one of 38 Member States who voted in favour of this historic resolution to recognise harm reduction measures at the recent UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meeting on 22 March 2024. The resolution was led by the United States and was passed, breaking the previous "consensus" which had effectively blocked any progress on global drug policy.

Read the UNAIDS Press Statement

Read the Resolution

Event: Spotlight on media representation and substance use stigma

  • When: Tuesday 16 April 2024
  • Where: Online
  • Organiser: UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health
  • Register

In this Spotlight on Stigma seminar, hear from international expert Professor Harry Sumnall about the impacts of media representation on public stigma related to substance use. Leah McLeod from the drug user movement will speak about her extensive experience in media communications related to substance use, including telling her own story to the media.

Event: Free and Equal Conference

  • When: Thursday 6 - Friday 7 June 2024
  • Where: Hyatt Regency, Gadigal, Sydney
  • Organiser: Australian Human Rights Commission
  • Register

Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, this historic national forum includes 12 sessions and events over two days featuring more than 50 leaders, experts and advocates from our human rights, civil society, legal, business, and government sectors. They’ll discuss and promote a progressive overhaul of Australia’s human rights framework, focusing on the introduction of a Human Rights Act.

A Human Rights Act would be a major reform, impacting on Australia’s legal, justice, government, civil society and business sectors, so understanding the trajectory of its introduction is vital for people working across these areas.

For more information about the intersection of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human rights, see resources on these websites:

Recording Available: Panel discussion: Hep Can’t Wait – Championing women living with hepatitis

On Thursday 7 March, the World Hepatitis Alliance hosted a panel discussion ahead of International Women’s Day, to explore the unique perspectives of women living with hepatitis. It also celebrated the women that are driving the hepatitis response and supporting other women living with hepatitis. 

Chaired by Rachel Halford, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance, panellists included:

  • Shabana Begum, National South Asian Project Coordinator, The Hepatitis C Trust
  • Marinela Debu, President of Romanian Association with Liver Disease (APH-RO); member of WHA, the European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA), and APCR (Romania)
  • Annie Madden, Executive Director, Harm Reduction Australia, and Project Lead, International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD)





Nominations Open: 2024 Levinia Crooks Emerging Leaders Award

Nominations are open now for the 2024 Levinia Crooks Emerging Leaders Award until 03 July 2024. The winner of the Levinia Crooks Emerging Leader Award 2024 will receive flights, accommodation and registration to the Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference 2024 in Sydney this September. The winner will also get the opportunity to present at the conference, as well as a 12-month complementary ASHM membership.

Find out more and nomination form

Gilead Community Grants Program

Gilead has announced the first round of  Community Grants for 2024, with $150,000 available to support not-for-profit organisations focused on increasing overall health and wellness of people living with or at risk of hepatitis C, HIV, and metastatic breast and blood cancers.

Applications must be submitted by 11.59pm AEST 26 April 2024 for projects to be delivered in 2024. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by Friday 3 May 2024.

Grant applications are available up to a maximum of $50,000.

Find out more

 

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