World Hepatitis Day 2021: Hepatitis Can’t Wait

The World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is observed to raise awareness of viral hepatitis. World Hepatitis Day aims to unite the global community to demand action from decision makers globally to prioritise the elimination of viral hepatitis. WHD is one of the World Health Organization’s officially mandated global public health days. It is a day when the world comes together to raise awareness of hepatitis, one of the most deadly and neglected diseases and health crises – one that is claiming a life every 30 seconds. Globally, 325 million people live with hepatitis, with more than 1.1 million lives lost each year to hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Yet, we have the tools to eliminate the disease by 2030.

On July 28, we raise our collective voices to call for more action for the people affected by hepatitis. Across the world, campaign supporters will raise their voices on social media, hold webinars, speak to the media and hold events to spread the message and raise awareness of hepatitis.

Objectives

1) To raise awareness of viral hepatitis
2) Communicate the urgent need for action on hepatitis now.
3) Reveal the social injustice caused by the lack of action on viral hepatitis
4) Raise the voices of the people and communities affected by viral hepatitis to demand positive action and fight stigma
5) Celebrate the global community combating hepatitis around the world
6) Call on policymakers, decision makers and global funders to join the fight to eliminate hepatitis.

With a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis related illness – even in the current COVID-19 crisis – we can’t wait to act on viral hepatitis.

Hep Can’t Wait

‘Hepatitis Can’t Wait’ is the new campaign theme to launch WHD 2021. This will bring WHA and our global network of over 300 members in nearly 100 countries together to lead the campaign internationally.

Launching in May, 2021 the Hepatitis Can’t Wait global campaign highlights the need to accelerate hepatitis elimination efforts, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside this, it will also highlight the social injustice and inequity caused by the current lack of action on hepatitis elimination and focus on the positive action needed to get on track to meet our 2030 elimination goals.

MORE INFO: https://www.worldhepatitisday.org/

• World Hepatitis Day 2020: “Hepatitis-free future”
• World Hepatitis Day 2019! Invest in eliminating H̶e̶p̶a̶t̶i̶t̶i̶s̶
• Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand achieve Hepatitis B control: WHO
• Find the Missing Millions, ”Eliminate H̶e̶p̶a̶t̶i̶t̶i̶s̶- #WorldHepatitisDay 2018
• World Hepatitis Day 2017: ”Eliminate H̶e̶p̶a̶t̶i̶t̶i̶s̶”
• World Hepatitis Day 2017: ”Eliminate H̶e̶p̶a̶t̶i̶t̶i̶s̶”