iral hepatitis has been a “silent killer” as many remain asymptomatic until it reaches the advanced stage characterised by serious complications, resulting in a degraded quality of life. Screening at regular intervals and taking preventive measures help prevent the occurrence of liver disease.

The World Health Organisation estimates that over 354 million people globally live with hepatitis B or C infection today. There are 1.5 million new infections each year. In 2019, hepatitis B resulted in an estimated 820,000 deaths that could have been prevented by vaccines that are safe, available and effective. Hepatitis B is a major global health problem that results in 3,000 deaths every day; in other words, there is a hepatitis death every thirty seconds. The burden of infection is highest in underdeveloped and poor regions of the world.

We have got only one life, and we have got only one liver. Hepatitis can shatter both. Under the theme, One Life, One Liver, this year’s World Hepatitis Day will highlight the importance of the liver for a healthy life and the need to scale up viral hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment to optimise liver health, prevent liver disease and achieve the 2030 hepatitis elimination Sustainable Development Goals.

Every year, World Hepatitis Day is commemorated on July 28 to create awareness and educate people about the effects of viral hepatitis, which can cause liver infection leading to severe liver-related disorders and liver cancer. Dr Baruch Samuel Blumberg, a physician and geneticist, discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967 and developed the first hepatitis B vaccine, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize. July 28, his birthday, was chosen as World Hepatitis Day to commemorate his achievement and contributions.

Hepatitis B infection developed in adulthood leads to chronic hepatitis in less than 5 percent of cases, whereas infection in infancy and early childhood leads to chronic hepatitis in about 95 percent of cases. This is the basis for strengthening and prioritising infant and childhood vaccination.

The virus is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, in early childhood, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections or exposures to sharp instruments, contaminated needles and syringes either in healthcare settings, in the community or among persons who inject drugs. Hepatitis B, however, can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine.

The National Library of Medicine, Maryland, USA, has noted that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are two major global public health crises. Both infections can cause liver damage. There are conflicting views on whether HBV infection aggravates the prognosis of patients with (Covid-19). There is a potential association between these two. Clarification of this association could benefit patients with Covid-19 and HBV co-infection.

Every year, World Hepatitis Day is commemorated on July 28 to create awareness and educate people about the effects of viral hepatitis, which can cause liver infection leading to severe liver-related disorders and liver cancer.

Since Covid-19 is no longer a severe global health emergency, now is the time to prioritise a hepatitis-free world and meet the global 2030 targets. Continued success in reducing hepatitis B infections in children proves that progress is possible. Provision of chronic hepatitis B treatment access to all pregnant women and birth vaccines to their infants can meet the challenge of this tragedy.

The World Health Organisation says that within Pakistan, almost 12 million people are suffering from hepatitis B or C, and each year there are about 150,000 new cases. A majority of people catch this infection in healthcare settings without being aware of it. Many patients remain undiagnosed and untreated for many years before developing complications and dying. Further, hepatitis B is estimated to result in 563,000 deaths and hepatitis C in 366,000 deaths annually. Pakistan is among the worst afflicted nations.

Key challenges for an effective national response include timely and reliable data on coverage and quality of essential hepatitis services; safe injection practices; the capacity of staff for safe injection practices; and hospital waste management. Unregulated blood transfusions in general, as well as inadequate screening, low coverage of harm reduction services for persons who inject drugs and limited access to the new direct-acting anti-viral treatments in the public sector, contribute to making this problem manifold.

The national response to hepatitis prevention and treatment in the country is being implemented through provincial hepatitis prevention and control programmes. The Pakistan Health Research Council, under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, is coordinating the hepatitis response at the federal and the provincial level through a Technical Advisory Group. Additionally, the private sector is playing a significant role in hepatitis treatment.

As most people living with hepatitis remain unaware, they could require repeated hospitalisation, expensive medicines and liver transplants, causing major financial burdens on their families as well as health systems. In many cases, patients die within one to three years as they get access to testing and treatment very late. According to the WHO, 23,720 people died of hepatitis-related causes in Pakistan in 2016, equivalent to 64 people every day.

A new study released by the WHO shows that investing in eliminating hepatitis can bring cost savings because instead of paying for long-term care required for liver cirrhosis and cancer, people would access hepatitis testing, treatment or cure while they are healthy.

National leaders, especially those in highly affected countries, should take liver health issues seriously and expand access to hepatitis testing, treatment and cure closer to home.

There is a dire need to institutionalise a reliable, integrated disease surveillance system for registered patients. Information, education, communication and advocacy campaigns to enhance awareness among all stakeholders will support the efforts of the healthcare providing system.

The writer is a playwright and freelance journalist. He can be reached at pashajaved1@gmail.com and his blogging site: soulandland.com