North East Digestive and Liver Foundation organizes week-long Hepatitis awareness programs in Guwahati

North East Digestive and Liver Foundation is organizing a week-long program on Hepatitis in Guwahati to create awareness regarding the disease amongst the general public. World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28th of July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, which causes inflammation of the liver that leads to severe diseases i.e., liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Dr. BD Goswami, Senior Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Guwahati, while addressing the media said, “On this World Hepatitis Day 2023, aligning with World Health Organization, North East Digestive and Liver Foundation is highlighting the need for bringing hepatitis care closer to the primary health facilities and communities so that people have better access to treatment and care, no matter what type of hepatitis they may have.”
Hepatitis is a global health problem where every 30 seconds, someone dies from a viral hepatitis-related illness. However, with the existing prevention, testing, and treatment services that are available every hepatitis-related death is preventable.
Elaborating on the viral disease, Dr. Amitava Goswami, Gastroenterologist, Guwahati, said, “Hepatitis can affect anyone, but it has a disproportionate effect on the people and communities most underserved by health systems. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection. There are five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These five types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread.”
WHO aims to achieve hepatitis elimination by 2030. To get there, WHO calls on countries to achieve specific targets:
• Reduce new infections of hepatitis B and C by 90%;
• Reduce hepatitis-related deaths from liver cirrhosis and cancer by 65%;
• Ensure that at least 90% of people with hepatitis B and C virus are diagnosed; and
• At least 80% of those eligible receive appropriate treatment.
Hepatitis B – It is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hepatitis C – The hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus. It causes both acute and chronic infections. Acute HCV infections are usually asymptomatic and most do not lead to a life-threatening disease.
Around 30% (15–45%) of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus within 6 months of infection without any treatment.
Looking into the seriousness of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses, every year North East Digestive and Liver Foundation in association with the Department of Gastroenterology, Gauhati Medical College and Indian Society of Gastroenterology, North East Chapter, observes “World Hepatitis Day” on 28th July. This year too, various activities are being organized to spread awareness to prevent these two deadly diseases and bring the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change. The theme this year is ‘One Life One Liver’.
A rally, “RUN FOR YOUR LIVER” will be organized on 28th July 2023 from Latasil Playground to Nehru Stadium, B Baruah Road, Guwahati at 06:00 AM for greater awareness and prevention of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.