Stating that the World Health Organization (WHO) and its stakeholders are making great efforts to move towards the goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Hakan Leblebicioğlu said, “Viral hepatitis affects more than 300 million people worldwide and causes more than 1 million deaths each year. In Turkey, more than 3 million people have hepatitis B and 300 thousand people have hepatitis C.”
VM Medical Park Samsun Hospital Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Hakan Leblebicioğlu gave information on the occasion of July 28 World Hepatitis Day. Stating that hepatitis B and hepatitis A vaccines are included in the immunization program in Turkey and are widely used, Prof. Dr. Hakan Leblebicioğlu said, “Although effective vaccines, prevention strategies and medications are available, deaths from hepatitis continue to increase globally.”
“2/3 of patients in the world do not receive adequate care and treatment”
Stating that viral hepatitis, which is an important public health problem, can lead to liver disease, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, Prof. Dr. Leblebicioğlu said, “However, two-thirds of hepatitis B patients in the world still do not receive adequate care and treatment. This situation confronts patients with serious health problems. Stating that World Hepatitis Day is a global initiative celebrated annually on July 28, Prof. Dr. Leblebicioğlu said, “The main purpose of this event is to combat viral hepatitis, to disseminate ways of prevention and to emphasize the importance of testing as well as treatment.”
“New slogan: act, test, treat, vaccinate”
The theme of this year's World Hepatitis Day is “Take action. Test, treat, vaccinate”. Prof. Dr. Leblebicioğlu listed the prominent calls and actions in line with this theme as follows
“Obtaining information and raising awareness: Learn about the types, transmission routes, prevention and treatment of hepatitis. Raise awareness by sharing this information with your friends, family and community.
Testing and vaccination: Encourage people, especially those at risk, to be tested for hepatitis. Vaccination for hepatitis A and B is vital for prevention. Early detection and treatment of hepatitis C can lead to recovery.
Take action: With one person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness, we cannot wait to take action to fight viral hepatitis. Individually and collectively, we must take a more active role in hepatitis.”
Stating that World Hepatitis Day is an important opportunity to reduce the global impact of viral hepatitis and achieve the goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030, Prof. Dr. Leblebicioğlu said: “Awareness raising, increasing access to testing and treatment services, vaccination and social mobilization are key elements in this fight. By acting together, we can reduce the devastating effects of viral hepatitis.”
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