PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation PRESS RELEASE ON WORLD HEPATITIS DAY 2024

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The PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN) is honored to join the global community in observing World Hepatitis Day 2024. This year’s theme, “It’s Time for Action,” highlights the urgent need for collective efforts to eradicate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

Hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, remains a major global health issue, impacting millions of people worldwide. Despite advancements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, hepatitis continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality, straining healthcare systems globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 325 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B and C, many of whom are unaware of their infection. These conditions can lead to severe liver diseases, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, resulting in over 1.1 million deaths annually. Although effective vaccines and treatments exist, hepatitis remains under diagnosed and under treated.

The 2024 theme, “It’s Time for Action,” stresses the need for immediate and sustained efforts to combat hepatitis. This call-to-action targets various stakeholders, including governments, healthcare providers, and communities, urging them to implement strategies that can lead to the elimination of hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, in alignment with the WHO’s Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis.

LAN Foundation believes that a comprehensive approach can address the challenges posed by hepatitis. Our initiatives include:

  • Awareness and Education Campaigns: Increasing public awareness about hepatitis through targeted campaigns, educational programs, and community outreach. By providing accurate information, we aim to dispel myths, reduce stigma, and encourage testing and vaccination.
  • Increasing Access to Testing and Treatment: Collaborating with healthcare providers to enhance access to affordable and reliable testing and treatment options. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are critical to preventing the progression of the disease and improving health outcomes.
  • Advocacy for Policy Change: Engaging with policymakers to advocate for stronger healthcare policies, increased funding, and comprehensive hepatitis programs. Effective policies are essential for ensuring that prevention, testing, and treatment services are accessible to all.
  • Partnerships and Collaborations: Building partnerships with international organizations, governments, non-governmental organizations, and community groups to leverage resources and expertise. Collaborative efforts are vital for creating a unified response to hepatitis.
  • Research and Innovation: Supporting research initiatives to develop innovative solutions for hepatitis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Investing in research will drive scientific advancements and improve patient care.
  • Knowledge, Skills Exchange and Collaboration on Triple EMTCT: Forging collaborative interventions in communities involving HIV and hepatitis patient organizations for community responses on the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B (Triple EMTCT). This includes:
    • Testing for HIV, syphilis, and HBV in antenatal care clinics;
    • Prompt and effective interventions to treat women who test positive and prevent transmission to their children;
    • Counseling for women and their partners to reduce transmission risk and ensure appropriate treatment;
    • Safely attended deliveries;
    • Proper follow-up of exposed infants, including the HBV vaccine birth dose;
    • Optimal infant feeding; and
    • Lifelong treatment and care for mothers living with HIV, or eligible for treatment for HBV or syphilis.

As we commemorate World Hepatitis Day 2024, PLAN reaffirms its commitment to a hepatitis-free future. We envision a world where hepatitis is no longer a public health threat, where everyone has access to the care they need, and where communities are empowered to take action. Together, we can turn the tide against hepatitis. It’s time for action, and it’s time for us to work together to make a difference. By raising awareness, advocating for change, and supporting those affected by hepatitis, we can achieve our goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030.