World Hepatitis Day

                   

On and around May 19, for the third consecutive year, the Canadian Hemophilia Society along with other Canadian organizations and individuals will join with groups around the world to raise public awareness of the life-threatening liver diseases hepatitis B and C. One in 12 people worldwide is afflicted with one or the other – 600,000 of them in Canada. While this is far higher than the prevalence of HIV or any cancer, awareness is inexplicably low and the majority of those infected are unaware. They may have no obvious symptoms until serious liver damage has occurred.  These are chronic, lifelong viral infections that can affect anyone from any walk of life.

‘This is hepatitis…’ - a new theme for World Hepatitis Day

So far the ‘Am I Number 12?’ theme has allowed organizations to communicate with a broad audience in a simple way to generate mass awareness around hepatitis B and C. Aimed at destigmatising viral hepatitis and focusing on the real impact of these diseases, ‘This is hepatitis…’, the new campaign theme for World Hepatitis Day 2010 and 2011, aims to tell the human story of viral hepatitis and continue the battle of raising awareness of hepatitis B and C around the world.

As a new theme, ‘This is hepatitis…’ will sit underneath the umbrella ‘Am I Number 12?’ campaign, and over the next two years will communicate four key messages:

• Prevention: ‘Get Protected’ – Knowing the risk factors for hepatitis B and C is the most important step in preventing new infections.
• Diagnosis: 'Get Tested' - Liver disease is long and complicated. Getting tested is quick and simple.
•  Protection: ‘Get Vaccinated’ –  In the case of hepatitis B there is a vaccine and the disease is preventable through immunisation.
• Treatment: ‘Get Treated’ – In many cases, treatment for hepatitis B and C is effective.

Thanks to the commitment and passion of the hundreds of patient groups and individuals, the 2009 campaign produced massive results. Over 400 events took place across 61 countries with over 2,500 pieces of global coverage reaching an estimated 1 billion people. These results continue to show what a collective effort can achieve and how, when we work together, we can make a real difference.

We urge everyone to learn about the risk factors involved in hepatitis B and C and the need for testing if they think they might have been infected. To find out more, including a list of the activities which are planned across Canada to mark this day and to help raise awareness, please visit:

In Canada, there is currently no national strategy or comprehensive system for care, treatment and prevention of hepatitis B and C. This is unacceptable for a country that prides itself on its publicly-funded universal health care system. To reduce the health and social impact of hepatitis B and C on the liver health of Canadians, we ask federal, provincial and territorial governments to adopt a fully- funded and coordinated national strategy that by 2012:

• Promotes prevention of both hepatitis B and C through expanded education, immunization and harm reduction programs all across Canada.
• Improves access to comprehensive care and treatment programs in all areas of the country.
• Increases knowledge and innovation through interdisciplinary research and surveillance to reduce the burden of both hepatitis B and C on Canadians.
• Creates awareness about risk factors, stigma and the need for testing among the general population and at-risk groups.
• Builds capacity through training and recruitment of qualified health professionals.
• Supports communities and community-based groups in developing, delivering and evaluating peer-driven and focused initiatives.

Additional documents

Canadian Government Asks

World Hepatitis Day 2008 Q & A

hepcinfo.ca

Recommendations for a Canadian Hepatitis C Strategy

ABC video about Hepatitis C

Get your city to proclaim May 19 Hepatitis Awareness Day! Here are examples:

City of Vancouver 2010 Proclamation

City of Toronto 2009 Proclamation


World Hepatitis Alliance Newsletters:

November 2009

December 2009

January 2010

March 2010

May 2010