World Hepatitis Day 2022 Summary Report
World Hepatitis Day 2022
On 28 July 2022, individuals, organisations, policy makers and governments around the world celebrated World Hepatitis Day (WHD), which is one of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) seven officially-mandated global public health days.
2022 theme: I Can't Wait
This year the theme was ‘I Can’t Wait’.
The ‘I Can’t Wait’ campaign highlighted the social injustice and inequity caused by the current lack of action on hepatitis elimination and focus on the positive action needed to get on track to meet the WHO 2030 elimination goals. The campaign amplified the voices of people affected by viral hepatitis calling for immediate action from decision makers globally to prioritise the elimination of viral hepatitis.
Online impact
We undertook a social media and email campaign to announce the new theme, with new social media graphics, posters, films and other assets used to promote the message. Members, partners and stakeholders were encouraged to join the campaign, as well as other creative ways to engage with and support the campaign and raise awareness.
Virtual global relay
Our virtual global relay is a way for members, partners, and stakeholders to get involved by sharing a short video of what hepatitis elimination means to them.
Over 70 organisations/individuals joined our global virtual relay across 26 countries, using #WHDRelay.
Global news and announcements
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared a World Hepatitis Day video statement around bringing hepatitis care closer to communities. Watch it here.
- Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, shared her support on social media highlighting that that babies vaccinated against hepatitis B within 24 hours of birth can be protected against the virus.
- World Hepatitis Alliance’s Past President, Dr Su Wang, and WHA Head of Programmes, Jess Hicks, along with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine contributed to an article in The Lancet: Gastroenterology and Hepatology on expanding community engagement and advocacy in chronic viral hepatitis. Read it here.
- Danjuma Adda, WHA President, was on the panel for the WHO Global Talk Show on World Hepatitis Day, which was opened by WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Danjuma discussed the community as a major stakeholder in the hepatitis response. Watch it here.
- Danjuma Adda, President of World Hepatitis Alliance stressed the need for more information and awareness on treatment of hepatitis, especially hepatitis B in an article in the Nigerian Tribune. Read it here.
- Charles Gore, Medicines Patent Pool, Executive Director and Founder of WHA issued a statement highlighting highlight three “key strategic and operational shifts required to eliminate hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus as public health threats by 2030”. Read more here.
- Hepatitis advocate Lien Tran tells her story of living with hepatitis in BBC Worldwide. Read it here.
- WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, launched a scorecard for hepatitis. View it here.
- EASL launched the Studio Policy Dialogues, which are short episodes on topical health policy issues, combining a scientific perspective and a policy perspective from experts. Watch here.
- Cary James, Chief Executive, The World Hepatitis Alliance discusses the importance of World Hepatitis Day in supporting efforts to eliminate hepatitis globally in Healthcare Digital. Read it here.
- Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination held a virtual session to highlight the continued urgency of implementing hepatitis B birth dose. Watch it here. They also released a new National Hepatitis Elimination Profile for Georgia and highlighted other recently released N-HEPs for Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Pakistan, and Ethiopia.
- ECDC issued a press statement highlighting the burden of hepatitis across Europe and announcing the publication of two annual epidemiological reports on hepatitis B and C using 2020 data which found that there has been a reduction in the number of cases reported in 2020 relative to earlier years. Read more here.
- EU Commission DG Health & Food Safety (SANTE), Public Health Director John F. Ryan calls for EU Members States to take action on viral hepatitis. Watch his statement here.
- On World Hepatitis Day, CDC published an article in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report detailing global progress made to eliminate the mother-to-child-transmission of hepatitis B.
World Hepatitis Alliance other activities
I Can’t Wait – Campaign video
We saw the launch of the hero campaign video “I Can’t Wait”, which shows people from across the world, from Thailand to Uganda, telling us why they can’t wait for a world without hepatitis. Over 601k views on Twitter, LinkedIn & YouTube.
A message from the WHA President
Our president, Danjuma Adda, shared his World Hepatitis Day statement including an update on where we are with hepatitis elimination and the urgency of what needs to be done. Danjuma shared his personal story and experiences with hepatitis as well highlighting some of his important work and advocacy in Nigeria.
Danjuma reminded us: It is now within our reach to make this dream of hepatitis elimination a reality. Read and watch Danjuma’s statement here.
Call to action for policy makers
WHA collaborated with UNITE, the global network of parliamentarians, to call for policy makers and parliamentarians around the world to pledge their support and commitment to World Hepatitis Day
We saw support across the world from France, Mexico, Honduras, and Ecuador.
Mothers and babies can’t wait: A call for action to end mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B
WHA launched the PMTCT white paper, outlining the context and human impact of mother-to-child transmission. The white paper makes recommendations, which, when carried out in addition to established guidelines, will ensure that PMTCT services are equitable, accessible, and available to all who need them. Read it here.
We held a webinar series
‘I Can’t Wait Community Forum’
In this forum we heard from people around the globe discussing their experiences of living with hepatitis and why we can’t wait for hepatitis elimination. The panel tapped into the global conversation around eliminating hepatitis by 2030 and offered an open forum for those living with hepatitis.
The ‘I Can’t Wait Community Forum’ was sponsored by AbbVie.
‘Mothers & babies can’t wait – fighting mother-to-child transmission’
This webinar launched our whitepaper on PMTCT which outlines the human impact of mother-to-child transmission and includes policy recommendations.
Innovative partnerships to reach new audiences
Dr Hen Says is a social platform, verified by medics, which aims to raise awareness on health topics, end stigma and combat misinformation.
Dr Hen explained to their followers what hepatitis is, the types of hepatitis, and the global burden of chronic hepatitis B and C, as well as raising awareness of World Hepatitis Day. The content had a reach of 48k, with 1.4k content interactions.