First WHO's World Hepatitis Day

Last July 28, 2011, World Hepatitis Day, a group of leading experts in viral hepatitis is urging governments and the public across Asia Pacific to become more aware of the devastating effects of hepatitis on individuals, their families, and the community at large. The group, known as CEVHAP (Coalition to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis in Asia Pacific) was recently formed to address the lack of awareness and political will to tackle issues associated with viral hepatitis. Leading gastroenterology and hepatology experts in Hong Kong, who form an integral part of the Coalition, are in full support of all efforts to increase awareness and promote health education to combat low public awareness and improve understanding of the disease and its implications, by patients and the general community alike.
 This is the first year that July 28 was recognized as World Hepatitis Day globally, as a result of World Health Assembly's Resolution on Viral Hepatitis (WHA63.R18) of May 21, 2010. The Resolution also expresses concern about the lack of progress in the prevention, control, and treatment of viral hepatitis around the world.
 "CEVHAP is committed to utilizing the collective expertise of its members in the region to partner with government bodies in policy formulation and health education. The challenges and burden of viral hepatitis on our health systems will escalate unless a coordinated action is employed to tackle the issue," said Prof. Ching-Lung Lai, Simon KY Lee Professorship in Gastroenterology, Chair Professor of Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong and a member of CEVHAP.
 Viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and C, affects 1 in 12 people worldwide, claiming the lives of approximately 1 million people every year.(1) Asia Pacific carries the major part of the global burden of viral hepatitis. In Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, the overall prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high (>8%).(2) For hepatitis C, it is estimated that 2% to 3% of world population carry hepatitis C virus.(3)

 "While chronic hepatitis is a silent disease with little or no symptoms for many years, it is also a silent disease when it comes to public awareness and government attention. This has led to the situation we find ourselves in today, where a large population with viral hepatitis does not seek medical attention or receive treatment, and this is also true for countries where the treatment is reimbursed by the government," said Prof. DS Chen, Distinguished Chair Professor of the College of Medicine at National Taiwan University and co-founder of CEVHAP.

 The number of people chronically infected with and annually dying as a result of viral hepatitis is on the same scale as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Despite having similar social impact, hepatitis lacks the same level of awareness and political momentum.
 CEVHAP's goal is to act as a bridge between the new WHO Resolution and the Asia Pacific region. Its early focus is on hepatitis B and C, the two types of hepatitis with the greatest impact in the region.
 "As experts in the field, our role is to ensure Asia Pacific, including Hong Kong, is part of WHO's global approach to tackle the problem of viral hepatitis. We aim to leverage World Hepatitis Day to drive awareness around the health, social, and economic burden of viral hepatitis in Hong Kong and the need for a collaborNike Air Penny 2