World Hepatitis Day: Uniting to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis

'Understanding Hepatitis and Its Global Impact Introduction and About:

• World Hepatitis Day is globally observed annually on July 28th to raise public awareness about hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that can lead to severe liver complications and cancer. This commemoration sheds light on the necessity of understanding this disease, its causes, effects, and prevention methods.

Significance of the Date:

• The date, 28th July, marks the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Dr. Baruch Blumberg. He is celebrated for his ground-breaking discovery of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the development of a diagnostic test and vaccine to combat the virus

Theme 2024: "It’s Time for Action":

• The theme for year 2024 is a call to intensify efforts and actions towards eradicating Hepatitis, underscoring the urgency of achieving the WHO's 2030 target for eliminating hepatitis.

Hepatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Forms:

• Hepatitis exhibits an array of symptoms including fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, and more.
• There are five primary strains of hepatitis - A, B, C, D, and E. Each strain has its unique transmission methods and health impacts. Among these, Hepatitis B and C are the most common and deadly, causing 1.3 million deaths and 2.2 million new infections globally each year.
• Besides the viral strains, additional causes of hepatitis include drug and alcohol misuse, fatty liver hepatitis, and certain autoimmune responses.

Global Initiatives to Tackle Hepatitis National and International Endeavours:

• Nationally, India has introduced the 'National Viral Hepatitis Control Program' aiming to alleviate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Furthermore, India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) provides free Hepatitis B vaccinations to the public.
• On a larger scale, the World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted the elimination of hepatitis by 2030. The initiative plans to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and cut down the hepatitis-related death rate by 65% between the years 2016 and 2030.

This information about World Hepatitis Day establishes its relevance in the public health domain and its significance in various competitive government exams which often include sections dedicated to events of national and international importance. Awareness and understanding about Hepatitis are steps towards eliminating this public health threat.