Dear Editor,

An estimated 304 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B or C. For most, testing and treatment remain beyond reach.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral hepatitis is the second-leading infectious cause of death globally, with 1.3 million deaths per year. Of these, 83 per cent are caused by hepatitis B and 17 per cent hepatitis C.

World Hepatitis Day, celebrated on July 28, provides a platform for advocacy, education, and engagement with governments, health professionals, and the public to drive awareness and action to eliminate viral hepatitis. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing fight against all types of hepatitis and to encourage stronger commitment at local, national, and international levels to combat the growing threat of the disease. Under the theme ‘It’s time for action’, this year’s World Hepatitis Day highlighted the need for collaborative action to expand access to diagnosis and treatment in countries.

Hepatitis B and C are silent chronic infections that, without proper diagnosis, can progress to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer, causing a significant negative impact on the lives of people and communities in our region. In the Americas, nearly 80,000 new infections of hepatitis B and C arise each year, which are mostly going undetected.

Viral hepatitis affects more than 300 million people worldwide. Despite effective vaccines, prevention strategies, and medications, deaths from hepatitis are increasing globally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the WHO, and other organisations around the world recognise World Hepatitis Day by raising awareness about viral hepatitis, the burdens people with hepatitis face, ongoing work to combat viral hepatitis across the globe, and actions people can take to prevent future transmission.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) continues to urge countries to expand access to testing and treatment for viral hepatitis, which affects more than 10 million people in the Americas, only 23 per cent of whom are diagnosed. According to the WHO’s 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, only 36 per cent of people infected with hepatitis C globally are diagnosed and 20 per cent receive curative treatment. As for chronic hepatitis B, only 13 per cent of those infected are diagnosed and 2.6 per cent receive life-saving medication. Under the theme ‘It’s time for action!’ PAHO emphasises the urgency of accelerating measures to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease.

PAHO works in collaboration with countries in the region on the design and implementation of national policies for the elimination of hepatitis, with strategies focused on primary care. Additionally, PAHO also facilitates access to diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines at more affordable prices through its Regional Revolving Funds. The global benchmark price for curative treatment of hepatitis C is US$60 per 12-week course and for hepatitis B treatment it is US$2.40 per month.

Hepatitis is now the world’s deadliest virus, after COVID-19. The voices of people living with hepatitis demanding testing, treatment, vaccinations, and the end of stigma must be amplified. It will make it clear there is no time to waste, and leaders, politicians, doctors, and communities must act now.

Unfortunately, people living with hepatitis are still not being heard or getting the resources they need despite the global scale of the problem. The international community, therefore, must redouble all efforts in order to reduce the cases of hepatitis.

Have you ever had a hepatitis test? Only one in six people know they have it. Get tested today!

Wayne Campbell

waykam@yahoo.com