WORLD Hepatitis Day, which falls on 28 July, is an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis, encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public and highlight the need for a greater global response as outlined in the WHO’s Global hepatitis report of 2017.
The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2026 is “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down.” The 2026 campaign calls on governments, healthcare providers, and communities to make hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment services more accessible and easier to obtain. The theme highlights the importance of addressing health inequalities, removing barriers to healthcare access, and combating stigma and misinformation surrounding hepatitis in order to achieve the goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030.
Liver diseases can be caused by viruses known as Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. The liver can also be damaged by taking medicines that are toxic to the body and by excessive alcohol consumption. Hepatitis can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food and water, receiving blood from patients infected with Hepatitis B or C viruses, direct contact with blood and body fluids without protection, the use of non-disposable syringes, and sexual transmission.
If hepatitis is not treated effectively, it can progress to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. As complications of liver cirrhosis, symptoms such as yellowing of the eyes, abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation, enlarged blood vessels, vomiting of blood, black stools, and kidney failure may occur. Therefore, special attention should be paid as these complications can become life-threatening.
Worldwide, approximately 50 million people are living with chronic Hepatitis C infection, with about one million new cases occurring each year. Hepatitis C can be completely cured with effective antiviral treatments, while Hepatitis B can be prevented through proper and systematic vaccination. In Myanmar, Hepatitis B prevention measures are being carried out by administering Hepatitis B vaccines to newborn babies delivered at public hospitals and providing four doses of the pentavalent vaccine, which includes the Hepatitis B vaccine component, to children under five years of age.
Regarding the prevention and control of hepatitis, medical professionals and responsible officials have to discuss and review the challenges they encountered in hepatitis treatment for the people, and coordinate efforts to ensure the effective and beneficial use of medicines and medical supplies for patients, as well as to provide improved medical care and treatment services.
