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Hello NOhep supporters,
We have been so inspired by the huge number of activities you carried out to mark World Hepatitis Day back in July. We've included a snapshot below and we would love to hear about any other NOhep events or activities you held, whether in person or virtual — you can tell us all about them by emailing us.
Thanks again to everyone who signed our World Hepatitis Day open letter; we've now sent it to ministries of health worldwide and we hope that our joint advocacy will spur governments into action.
We hope you enjoy this update, and look forward to keeping up the momentum of World Hepatitis Day throughout the year to make NOhep a reality!
The NOhep Team
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SOS Hepatitis Burkina are pioneers in the fight against viral hepatitis in Burkina Faso. Recognised for their work by the World Health Organization, the national government and the media, their tireless advocacy has led to the development and adoption of a national hepatitis elimination plan, as well as lower costs for hepatitis testing.
In addition to their advocacy work, SOS Hepatitis Burkina carry out large-scale awareness-raising campaigns as well as screening and vaccination drives, and offer counselling and support to people living with viral hepatitis.
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To mark World Hepatitis Day in July, Beacon Youth Initiative held a hepatitis sensitisation camp in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, and offered free hepatitis B and C testing as well as vaccination against hepatitis B!
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Hepar Centar Bitola conducted a huge number of #NOhep-themed World Hepatitis Day activities throughout July and August, including distributing awareness-raising materials at popular beach locations, holding a music concert, engaging celebrities and the media, conducting hepatitis testing and more!
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Lighting the world up green
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Many planned face-to-face World Hepatitis Day events and activities couldn't go ahead due to COVID-19, but that didn't deter NOhep supporters from doing everything they could to raise awareness of viral hepatitis! Monuments in countries around the world (including the Philippines and Australia, pictured) were lit up green. We love this creative way of raising awareness for NOhep!
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SOS Hépatites Burkina took to the streets of the capital city of Ouagadougou on World Hepatitis Day, holding an awareness-raising caravan that passed through different public spaces including bus stations and markets. We love their eye-catching NOhep signs, which were stuck on a variety of vehicles to grab people's attention!
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Mothers speak up for NOhep
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Mothers from countries around the world, including Guatemala, the USA, Australia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Egypt and the UK spoke up for a NOhep world by sharing engaging messages calling for all women to have access to testing and care, and for all babies to receive the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine. What a great way to raise awareness!
To support efforts to prevent the mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, we also produced a short social media video featuring NOhep Medical Visionary Dr. Su Wang. You can watch and share it on Facebook by clicking here or on the image below.
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Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in children under five drops to below one per cent
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According to new estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in children under five has dropped to just under one per cent, down from around five per cent in the pre-vaccine era (the period between the 1980s and early 2000s). This is a major milestone in the race to eliminate viral hepatitis, and marks the achievement of one of the key hepatitis elimination targets in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Despite this achievement, WHO has called for improved access to the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine. While global coverage of the first dose of the vaccine (within 24 hours of birth) is 43 per cent, this drops to 34 per cent in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and just six per cent in the African region.
Click here to read more about this landmark achievement and find out more about WHO's plans
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Major new test and treat campaign launched in Pakistan
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A major new programme to test and treat a million people for hepatitis in Pakistan by 2021 was announced by Sarwar Foundation, a Pakistan-based NGO, and the University of Health Sciences Lahore (UHSL) on World Hepatitis Day 2020.
Sarwar Foundation, in collaboration with UHSL and 14 other organisations, will hold hepatitis awareness and screening camps in both rural and urban areas. There will also be a particular focus on reaching people who could not otherwise afford testing or treatment.
Click here to read more about this exciting development
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Hawai'i launches hepatitis elimination strategy
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Seasoned NOhep advocates Hep Free Hawai'i had some big news on World Hepatitis Day — they launched Hawai'is first hepatitis elimination strategy, "Hep Free 2030"!
This new, community-driven strategy is the result of extensive consultation with representatives from more than 50 agencies and with people affected by or living with viral hepatitis in Hawai’i.
Click here to find out more and read the strategy
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