World Hepatitis Day 2024: History, Awareness, Theme & More

Hepatitis is a disease that causes damage to the liver; millions of people across the world suffer from it!  

World Health Organization has estimated that over 3,500 people die due to hepatitis B and C.  

The country that is most affected by this is Africa.  

There are people dying every sec, min from this fatal disease and we need to act on it right away! 

This year’s World Hepatitis Day 2024, let’s talk about the issues, create awareness and help those around you suffering from this disease. 

World hepatitis day 2024 theme  

“It’s time for action,” highlights the need to work, collaborate, and take action in diagnosing and treating hepatitis in such countries.  

World Hepatitis Day History 

We need to know about world hepatitis day and its history to understand the importance of world hepatitis day. 

The first world hepatitis day was on May 19, 2008. It was organised by the WHA, and established early that year (2007). But they shifted it to 2008 to also mark the birthday of Dr. Baruch. This day is seen as an initiative to help people suffering and to ask for national and international efforts to fight against it.  

This hepatitis awareness day in 2024 is a time to create awareness under a single theme. Just as much as other parts of our organs are important to the human body, the liver is one of the most important that requires you to take care of and keep it in good health. Most people are not even aware of the dangers of hepatitis and its effects on their health.  

In a society where there is a stigma, let’s break this old thought and create a better environment for patients to grow, thrive, and get better in their lives. 

When is world hepatitis day celebrated? 

To mark the birthday of Dr. Baruch, the discoverer of the disease, World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on July 28, 2024.

The primary objective of celebrating World Hepatitis Day is to work on eliminating it as a public threat by 2030. 

The message or slogan for world hepatitis day is that we have only one life. This disease is fatal to both. That’s why this day reminds us to take care of our liver and prioritise its health, getting check-ups, and creating awareness about it.  

Every country celebrates it in its own way such as Australia world hepatitis day 2024, and few others.  

World Hepatitis Day Awareness Programs 

The world hepatitis alliance has launched several programs to combat this issue: 

World Hepatitis Summit 2024 

To raise awareness about diagnosis and treatment, the event was held in April.

Community Impact Programs  

It is an accelerator program driven to offer more knowledge about hepatitis through workshops and other learning methods. 

Campaign Resource

There is distribution through materials such as films, social media, and posters in many languages.

Initiatives by universities 

Many universities are working on initiatives to create awareness through various programs.  

Events are organized by universities, such as panel discussions, and lectures from experts, where they provide relevant information and inspire students to be part of the programs through life stories.  

These universities are concerned and feel the need to contribute their part in making this world a better place. With the education they have, they want to impart it across so that there’s a collaborative effort to work on the same.  

University of Ghana 

The institute will organize an annual quiz to educate and engage students from local schools to understand the dangers of hepatitis and inform them of prevention and treatment. 

University of Birmingham 

The university is partnering with the British Liver Trust to host educational workshops and check-ups for students and staff. It aims to create awareness of the importance of detection and treatment.  

Imperial College London 

Several seminars and lectures are conducted by the college to encourage students to get vaccinated against the disease

King’s College 

The college is collaborating with the Hepatitis C Trust to provide training sessions to students on prevention and treatment. They are also strong advocates for the elimination of this disease. 

Digital impact of world hepatitis day 

Through many social media platforms, there’s been a better possibility of creating awareness of hepatitis. These online platforms pave the way for education and informing the world and its viewers on the impact of hepatitis on public health. This is encouraging many people, institutions, students, communities, and governments across the globe to collaborate and work together on combating this biggest health issue that’s fatal to human life.  

The digital platforms show and educate the public in many forms of educational materials, such as coverage of interiors that may be unknown to many! Through this exposure, the public is aware of real-life issues and commits to working and helping those struggling and battling in different parts of the world. 

Conclusion

You may be in any part of the world but live in one world where we all have to stand together and fight this virus that is destroying humans every second of our lives. Some countries are facing this disease more than others. Let’s spread the word and make a difference!

Also Read:- World Population Day, International Day Against Drug Abuse, International Yoga Day, World Environment Day