Viral hepatitis causes more than one million deaths per year.

Viral hepatitis, mainly those caused by viruses B and C, cause more than a million deaths a year and affect more than 300 million people worldwide, as reported by the Spanish Digestive System Foundation (FEAD). on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day.

“Viral hepatitis is a major problem for the public health system worldwide. It is therefore necessary to monitor viral hepatitis for two reasons: first, because of its transmissibility; and the second, due to the possibility of developing other pathologies, such as acute liver failure, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver cancer“say it president of FEAD, martha married.

However, apostille, some of these hepatitises can be prevented (by vaccination), can be treated (as in the case of hepatitis B) and even cured (as in hepatitis C). In fact, the latter is the only chronic viral infection which, to date, can be cured thanks to the development of effective and well-tolerated antiviral drugs, which opens the door to hope that it may be possible to achieve its elimination. total.

For all these reasons, and because of the importance of continuing to work to eradicate this disease from the health sector, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated July 28 more than ten years ago as against hepatitis and proposed the ambitious goal of eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.

Specifically, the international entity seeks to reduce the possibility of new hepatitis infections by 90% and prevent 65% of the deaths caused each year by the spread of these diseases. To this end, WHO urges all countries to ensure that at least 90% of patients with hepatitis B and C are diagnosed and that, of these, 80% receive adequate treatment.

This year’s motto is “Bringing care close to you”, and with it the global organization aims to improve diagnostic testing coverage, bringing hepatitis care closer to all primary care centers so that patients have better access to treatment, whatever the type. viral hepatitis they may have.