WHO EMRO - World Hepatitis Day 2018

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World Hepatitis Day 2018: Test for hepatitis B and C - it could save your life

This year, WHO highlights the importance of testing. The campaign aims to encourage the general population to be tested in order that they can seek care and treatment if their result is positive. Hepatitis testing can save your live. By knowing your status, you can make better informed choices to live a healthy life and become part of the movement to prevent others from contracting the disease.

Viral hepatitis represents a considerable public health threat in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where almost 36 million people are chronically infected by the disease (15 million with hepatitis C virus and 21 million people with hepatitis B virus). The Region has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C worldwide (2.3%) and ranks third among other regions for hepatitis B virus (3.3%). With this high burden for viral hepatitis, many people in the Region are living with the disease and do not know their status.

The huge testing gap in the Region hinders efforts to move towards elimination targets by 2030. If people are unaware that they are infected their opportunities for treatment and to live healthier lives are lost. If the disease is left undetected and untreated, it can cause liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Driven by the global commitment in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to combat viral hepatitis, the WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis sets as a target the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030. The global strategy calls for a major increase in the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B and C viral infection; 30% by 2020 and 90% by 2030.