Hey steemians,
The World Hepatitis Day is observed every July 28 to create global awareness of hepatitis in general. Although there have been several previous independent awareness days for each type hepatitis, but July 28 was adopted in May 2010 by the World Health Assembly.
The theme for this year's WHD is: Know Hepatitis: Act now
Sure you must have had a great day. Here in my country too, we had a seminar plus free hepatitis test for people and the turnout was quite impressive.
Here are few things (facts) you need to know about the World Hepatitis Day and related matters:
Viral hepatitis affect 400 million people globally. This is more than the entire population of United States! Every year, 6-10 million people globally are newly infected.
An estimated 95% of people with hepatitis are unaware of their infection This is due to poor awareness of the infection. People worry more about HIV/AIDS than they do with hepatitis, but in reality, hepatitis kill more people faster than AIDS. Also, hepatitis is quite expensive and unavailable in many African countries where it is prevalent.
Although there are five common types of viral hepatitis: A, B, C, D and E, there two other less known X and G. out of this, hepatitis B and C are the most deadly and they solely account for the 400 million case in 1 above with B slightly more than C.
• Hepatitis A is caused by consuming contaminated food or water.
• Hepatitis B is a sexually transmitted disease.
• Hepatitis C is commonly spread via direct contact with the blood of a person who has the disease.
• A person can only become infected with hepatitis D if they are already infected with hepatitis B.
• Person can become infected with the hepatitis E virus (HEV) by drinking contaminated water.
• Hepatitis that cannot be attributed to one of the viral forms of the disease is called hepatitis X.
• Hepatitis G is another type of hepatitis caused by a specific virus (HGV).
1.5 million people worldwide die from either hepatitis B or C
Most of the viral hepatitis can be prevented by living a "healthy life" vis a vis: practicing personal hygiene, safe sex, abstain from drugs, quit smoking and reduce intake of alcohol.
90% of people with hepatitis C can be completely cured within 3-6 months.
How did you observe WHD at your place?
