comprehend how we permit this tragedy to persist. One of us dies from our disease every 30 seconds. Every death results in losing a loved one or a family without a parent, kid, or spouse.
For hepatitis B, there are vaccinations, effective treatments, and a cure. Hepatitis can be cured with these techniques, but the process is too sluggish. Hepatitis must be treated immediately. Deaths are occurring.
How many more children’s lives must be lost before all infants are given a cheap vaccine? How many more people must pass away from liver cancer brought on by chronic hepatitis infection until everyone has access to treatments?
National governments, international donors, development funds, and organizations have accepted the needless fatalities brought on by hepatitis by remaining silent. They have to decide and do.
What Will Make Hepatitis Go Away? Take Immediate Action
Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination Director Dr. John Ward
More than 7 million deaths will be avoided if hepatitis is completely eradicated by 2030.
Countries that have achieved early success in adopting elimination targets have identified the following program elements:
- Strategic data for national planning and program performance monitoring
- International support to spark national initiatives and “micro-elimination” pilots
- National action strategy, including policies for testing, treatment, and prevention
- coalitions to assemble communal and political resources
- Put equity first and work to close health inequities.
- Hepatitis eradication services being included in current health systems
- Maintaining national funding until eradication goals are met
- Involvement in operational research
- Adjusting goals as program experience is gained
The Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination and coalitions in 30 countries start creating national hepatitis elimination profiles on World Hepatitis Day. These profiles will highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each component and advocate for workable next steps that will speed up the process of hepatitis elimination.