World Hepatitis Day: July 28th

World Hepatitis Day is celebrated annually today and is one of eight global public health campaigns endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According the WHO, approximately five hundred million people internationally are suffering from hepatitis strands B and C. If left untreated, the disease could lead to several future health complications, including liver scarring, cancer or even failure. Nearly 1.5 million people worldwide die from hepatitis every year- and all of these deaths can be prevented.

The main goals of World Hepatitis Day are to raise awareness about the disease, inform individuals about prevention techniques and treatment options, and eliminate stigmas attached to the disease and one’s ability to catch it.

More than one hundred countries now recognize World Hepatitis Day and provide movie screenings, advertising campaigns, demonstrations and various other forums for spreading the word about disease awareness, symptoms, prevention and treatability.

Read more about World Hepatitis Day on their official website.

Learn more about the World Hepatitis Alliance here.