IAMM TAPC CHAPTER: World Hepatitis Day: 28 July 2012

Today, 28th July 2012, is being observed as "World Hepatitis Day".

“It’s closer than you think” is the theme of this year’s World Hepatitis Day.

The campaign focuses on raising awareness of the different forms of hepatitis: what they are and how they are transmitted; who is at risk; and the various methods of prevention and treatment.

The date, July 28 was chosen in honour of Nobel Laureate Prof. Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus, who celebrates his birthday on that date.( The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1976 was awarded jointly to Baruch S. Blumberg and D. Carleton Gajdusek "for their discoveries concerning new mechanisms for the origin and dissemination of infectious diseases")

READ MORE: (Source : WHO and Wikipedia)

World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28 every year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis B and hepatitis C and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

“It’s closer than you think” is the theme of this year’s World Hepatitis Day, which takes place on 28 July 2012.

The campaign focuses on raising awareness of the different forms of hepatitis: what they are and how they are transmitted; who is at risk; and the various methods of prevention and treatment.
According to WHO,
Hepatitis A : 1.4 million estimated cases occur annually
Hepatitis B : 2 billion people (estimated) worldwide have been infected with the virus
Hepatitis C : 150 million people are chronically infected with the virus.

Approximately 500 million people worldwide are living with either hepatitis B or hepatitis C. This represents 1 in 12 people, and was the basis for the 2008 World Hepatitis Day Am I Number 12? Campaign.

World Hepatitis Day has been led by the World Hepatitis Alliance since 2007 and on May 2010, it got global endorsement from the World Health Organization as one of only four mandated health awareness days, together with malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

In 2007 the World Hepatitis Alliance was formed to unite worldwide hepatitis B and hepatitis C patient groups and bring more public and political attention to the issue of viral hepatitis.

With input of its members (organizations from around the world working in the field of hepatitis), the newly titled World Hepatitis Day was switched to May 19, and launched with the campaign slogan 'Am I Number 12?' in 2008. ‘Am I Number 12?’ referred to the worldwide statistic that 1 in 12 people are living with viral hepatitis B or hepatitis C, and the slogan was translated into 40 different languages for use by patient organizations worldwide, and also displayed in banner form on several public landmarks.

'Am I number 12' was maintained as the theme for the 2009 World Hepatitis Day, with many alliance members also creating a hepatitis themed '12 asks of government'.
In 2010 the third annual World Hepatitis Day was held, with a new theme of 'This is hepatitis' given prominence. This is hepatitis gave a renewed focus to the human stories behind viral hepatitis. 'This is hepatitis' was retained as the theme for 2011.
In 2012 the ‘This is hepatitis’ theme has been evolved to ‘This is hepatitis… It’s closer than you think’. The new slogan encourages people to recognise how prevalent the condition is, that hepatitis is “closer to home” than many people may imagine, whilst continuing to break down the stigma associated with it.
Following the adoption of a viral hepatitis resolution during the 63rd World Health Assembly in May 2010, World Hepatitis Day was given global endorsement as the primary focus for national and international awareness-raising efforts and the date was changed to July 28 (in honour of Nobel Laureate Prof. Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus, who celebrates his birthday on that date). The resolution resolves that:

"28 July shall be designated as World Hepatitis Day in order to provide an opportunity for education and greater understanding of viral hepatitis as a global public health problem, and to stimulate the strengthening of preventive and control measures of this disease in Member States;"

World Hepatitis Day dates, names, and themes: (Date-Name-Theme-Campaign message) :

1 October 2004-International Hepatitis C Awareness Day -"You have company" -If you have viral hepatitis, you are not alone

1 October 2005- World Hepatitis C Awareness Day -"Hepatitis C - A Priority Today" -Global prioritisation of hepatitis C awareness, treatment and vaccination

1 October 2006 -World Hepatitis Awareness Day-"Get tested" -If you think you may have been at risk of viral hepatitis, get tested and seek treatment.

1 October 2007 -World Hepatitis Awareness Day -"Get tested" -If you think you may have been at risk of viral hepatitis, get tested and seek treatment.

19 May 2008 -World Hepatitis Day "-Am I number 12?" -Hepatitis affects one in twelve people globally.

19 May 2009 -World Hepatitis Day -"Am I number 12?"- Hepatitis affects one in twelve people globally.

19 May 2010 -World Hepatitis Day -"This is hepatitis" Hepatitis: Get tested-Liver disease is long and complicated, getting tested is quick and simple

28 July 2011 -World Hepatitis Day -"This is hepatitis" -Hepatitis can affect anyone, anywhere. Know it. Confront it.

28 July 2012- World Hepatitis Day -“This is hepatitis… It’s closer than you think” -Hepatitis does not discriminate against age, race or gender. It can affect anyone, anywhere. Know it. Confront it. Get tested.
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The Logo :
The World Hepatitis Day logo is the global symbol for encouraging better awareness, action, and support to prevent and treat viral hepatitis.