World Hepatitis Day – Monday 28 July

World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and liver cancer.

This year’s theme is Hepatitis – Let’s Break It Down calling for urgent action to dismantle the financial, social and systemic barriers – including stigma – that stand in the way of hepatitis elimination and liver cancer prevention.

Chronic hepatitis B and C silently cause liver damage and cancer – despite them being preventable, treatable, and, in the case of hepatitis C, curable. The theme emphasises the need to simplify, scale up, and integrate hepatitis services – vaccination, safe injection practices, harm reduction and especially testing and treatment – into national health systems.

🧠 Busting Common Myths

There are widespread misconceptions such as:

• Hepatitis is always alcohol-related or food-borne;
• Once diagnosed, nothing can be done;
• Only visibly ill people can spread the virus.

Many carriers remain asymptomatic yet infectious, vaccination is effective regardless of age, and early treatment enhances long-term outcomes.

🏁 Final Word

On this World Hepatitis Day, the global health community underscores that hepatitis can no longer wait-the tools exist today to prevent, manage, and cure. The path to elimination demands breaking down barriers, boosting awareness, ensuring equitable access to diagnostics and vaccines, and delivering stigma‑free health care at scale.