World Hepatitis Day, observed annually on 28 July, spotlights a silent scourge: viral hepatitis, a leading cause of liver disease and cancer.

The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region bears a heavy burden, with 27 million infected and nearly 100,000 preventable deaths each year. This year’s campaign, under the banner “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” calls for dismantling social, financial, and systemic barriers—including stigma—that hinder efforts to eliminate the disease, while urging the integration of vaccination, testing, and treatment into national health systems.

Progress is tangible. Egypt leads the charge, achieving gold-tier status for hepatitis C elimination in 2023 and hepatitis B control by the end of 2024. Its landmark “100 million Seha” initiative screened over 60 million people and treated millions free of charge, slashing hepatitis-related deaths by 35% since 2018. Pakistan follows suit, aiming to test and treat half its eligible population by 2027 through domestic funding.

WHO officials stress that political will, sustainable investment, and data-driven strategies are vital to scale up proven interventions—from birth-dose vaccinations to universal health coverage inclusion. The message is clear: breaking down barriers and stigma is imperative if hepatitis—and its deadly complications—are to be consigned to history.

Source: WHO