World Hepatitis Day - 28 July

Tags: Important Days

World Hepatitis Day is observed globally on 28 July.

An Overview of the News

• Its main objective is to raise awareness and drive meaningful change about the global burden of viral hepatitis, which causes liver inflammation, chronic disease and liver cancer.

• The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2023 is 'We are not waiting'.

• On July 28, World Hepatitis Day urges people around the world to take immediate action because hepatitis cannot wait.

• Its ultimate goal is to bring about a real change in policies, practices and public perception about hepatitis.

History of World Hepatitis Day

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a campaign to make the world free of hepatitis.

• The World Hepatitis Alliance was established in 2007.

• The first community-organised World Hepatitis Day was observed in 2008.

• The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg.

• Dr. Baruch Blumberg discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967.