VIVA! Communications & GLOBALHealthPR pledge their support for World Hepatitis Day – July 28, 2016
VIVA! Communications and GLOBALHealthPR are proud to announce their official support for World Hepatitis Day, July 28, 2016, joining a plethora of organisations that are fighting to ELIMINATE chronic Hepatitis C.
World Hepatitis Day unites people from all walks of life to raise awareness of the substantial global burden of viral hepatitis and to provoke real change in disease prevention, testing and treatment options.
The theme for this year’s World Hepatitis Day is ELIMINATION. Watch the campaign video here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVttqfgExL0
What is Hepatitis C?
Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health issue affecting approximately 170 million people worldwide.
Approximately 230,500 Australians are living with chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV). If left untreated, HCV can progress to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer and liver failure.
HCV is a silent disease – an alarming 95% of people living with viral hepatitis are unaware they are have the disease.
In May 2016, World Health Organization (WHO) member States that attended the World Health Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland, committed to ELIMINATING viral hepatitis by 2030.
The WHO Global Health Sector Strategy (2016-2021) on viral hepatitis aims to reduce the annual death rate from chronic hepatitis from 1.4 million to less than 0.5 million by 2030.
The five strategic directions of the WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis, 2016–2021
CEO of Hepatitis Australia, Helen Tyrrell, said World Hepatitis Day (July 28, 2016) represents an important opportunity to encourage people to remain cognisant of the dangers associated with viral hepatitis, and urge people to consult their doctor.
“We’re calling on all people living with viral hepatitis, known as Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, to speak to their doctor to make sure they aren’t missing out on treatment that can prevent liver cancer, liver cirrhosis and liver failure,” Tyrrell said.
According to Ms Tyrrell, in the last year alone, there has been a marked improvement in the treatments available for Hepatitis C. These new antiviral medicines are substantially more effective and cause far fewer side-effects than previous treatments.
“Recent treatment advances for Hepatitis C, vaccination for Hepatitis B, and the development of fast and painless liver scans to monitor liver health, mean that we can manage and treat both Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C before serious liver disease develops.
“World Hepatitis Day provides an important reminder for families and communities to talk about viral hepatitis and make sure we turn the tide on these two conditions,” said Ms Tyrrell.
According to Raquel Peck, CEO of the World Hepatitis Alliance, London, United Kingdom, “We are at a turning point for viral hepatitis. We have the tools; we have the commitment; what we need now is action.
“We are asking all stakeholders to join us in celebrating the launch of NOhep on World Hepatitis Day, to help eliminate viral hepatitis – an illness that affects 400 million people worldwide.”
Nohep
Nohep is a global World Hepatitis Alliance movement that aims to unite the hepatitis community and broader public to take action and call upon governments to ensure global commitments are met by 2030.
WHY Nohep?
- Nohep… is RIGHT
4,000 deaths per day is 4,000 too many. Join Nohep… for greater access to life-saving medicines and vaccines
- Nohep… is SMART
Eliminating hepatitis C will pay for itself by 2030. Join Nohep… to ensure governments make smart investments
- Nohep … is FOR ALL
Viral hepatitis stigma stops people working, learning and having relationships. Join Nohep… to end stigma and stop discrimination
- Nohep… OUR NEXT GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
Taking action now will save 7 million lives by 2030. Join Nohep… to make the elimination of viral hepatitis our next greatest achievement.
HOW?
- VACCINATE for Nohep
300,000 cancer deaths a year can be prevented. Join Nohep… for universal vaccination coverage.
- TEST for Nohep…
95 per cent of people living with viral hepatitis don’t know they are living with the disease. Join Nohep… for increased testing among those at-risk.
- TREAT for Nohep…
4,000 people die each day, yet life-saving medicines exist. Join Nohep… for greater access to life-saving treatments.
How can you get involved this World Hepatitis Day?
Great strides have already been made, but so much more can be done to ensure 2016 is the beginning of the end of viral hepatitis.
To pledge your support to ELIMINATE viral hepatitis:
- Sign up to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 at http://www.nohep.org/.
- Share photos from your events to show the world how you are contributing to the ELIMINATION of viral hepatitis. Upload your photos to http://worldhepatitisday.org/en/gallery or tweet your pictures using #World HepDay.
- Sign up to the Nohep Thunderclap before 9:00 PM AEST at https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/43213-nohep-eliminate-hepatitis to share the following message on your elected social media channels.
