Research Revealed on World Hepatitis Day Shows Countries Ill-equipped to Cope With Silent Epidemic

LONDON, July 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

World Hepatitis Alliance calls for urgent action to address disease killing as many as HIV/AIDS

On World Hepatitis Day, the World Hepatitis Alliance has called for urgent attention to be given to recent figures showing that although viral hepatitis kills as many as HIV/AIDS, the great majority of countries have no programmes in place to tackle it.

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The Global Burden of Disease study released last year in the Lancet shows that viral hepatitis was responsible for almost 1.45 million deaths in 2010, the same as HIV/AIDS and significantly more than TB or Malaria. Despite this enormous annual death toll, leaders in global health consistently leave it off their agendas.

'Viral hepatitis is the 8th leading cause of death worldwide, killing as many people as HIV/AIDS every single year' says Charles Gore, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance. '500 million people worldwide are chronically infected. In the face of these numbers how is it possible that viral hepatitis receives so little priority across the world?'

Currently, diseases receive attention and funding depending on their global priority. However the global priority list does not necessarily reflect the real burden of disease. This has led to responses that are disproportionate to disease impact, and has left some diseases tragically under-resourced. Viral hepatitis is a clear example; despite its huge burden there is little global pressure to address it. Consequently, the majority of governments have failed to dedicate resources to viral hepatitis, even in countries where prevalence is up to 20%.

The Global Report released by the World Health Organization last week showed the extent to which viral hepatitis is ignored. Only 37% of countries have a national strategy or plan for viral hepatitis, and less than 30% reported having a department responsible solely for viral hepatitis related activities. The lack of response to the world's 8^th biggest killer is truly baffling. Not only does it put millions of lives at risk by allowing this silent epidemic to grow, it leaves the 500 million people who are chronically infected wholly abandoned without support or recognition.

In 2010 the World Health Organisation openly recognised that viral hepatitis is a major cause for concern by making World Hepatitis Day one of only 7 world health days officially recognised by WHO and all Member States. However, major changes to the global health landscape are yet to be seen. This World Hepatitis Day, the World Hepatitis Alliance has therefore launched a mass awareness campaign under the theme 'This is hepatitis. Know it. Confront it.' to encourage people to find out more and to confront the silence around the disease.

The Alliance is also co-ordinating a global Guinness World Record attempt for the number of people performing the 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' actions at the same time, actions chosen because in the same way the Three Wise Monkeys ignore the world around them, so the world has been ignoring viral hepatitis. With 58 teams from 25 countries around the world taking part, this is a considerable challenge but with a clear message: viral hepatitis is a silent epidemic. Know it. Confront it.

Notes to the Editor

World Hepatitis Alliance

The World Hepatitis Alliance is a non-governmental umbrella organisation with 165 member patient groups in 66 countries. Representing 500 million people living with viral hepatitis worldwide, the Alliance strives to support and promote patient voices, to raise the profile of viral hepatitis and to establish comprehensive hepatitis strategies in all countries. The World Hepatitis Alliance has been a dominant voice in achieving various successes for people living with hepatitis, including leading the patient community in calling for the WHO resolution on hepatitis. Through better awareness, prevention, care, support and access to treatment, their ultimate goal is to work with governments to eradicate these diseases.  

For further information visit: http://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org    

World Hepatitis Day

On 28 July 2013, the World Hepatitis Alliance will coordinate the sixth global World Hepatitis Day, one of only four official disease-specific health awareness days recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and endorsed by its 194 member states. The aim for 2013 is to raise awareness of chronic hepatitis B and C around the globe and to drive policy change for improvements in health outcomes for patients.

Hepatitis B and C

500 million people are living with chronic viral hepatitis. Hepatitis B and C are 'silent' viruses, because people may experience no symptoms. If left untreated and unmanaged, hepatitis B or C can lead to advanced liver scarring (cirrhosis) liver cancer or liver failure.

Contacts

For more information, additional spokesperson quotes or photo requests, please contact:

Hilary Campbell: [email protected], +44(0)20-7378-0159

SOURCE World Hepatitis Alliance