WHO urges global action to break barriers to hepatitis prevention and treatment
DÍLI, 29 July 2026 (TATOLI) — Countries around the world marked World Hepatitis Day on Tuesday with renewed calls to eliminate barriers preventing millions of people from accessing life-saving hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment services.
Observed annually on July 28, World Hepatitis Day aims to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, a liver infection that can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated.
This year’s theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down,” calls for removing the social, financial and health system barriers that continue to limit access to essential hepatitis services, despite the availability of effective tools to prevent and treat the disease.
Viral hepatitis remains one of the world’s leading causes of preventable illness and death. While effective vaccines, accurate diagnostic tests, curative treatments for hepatitis C and lifelong therapies for hepatitis B are widely available, millions of people remain undiagnosed, untreated or unable to access care because of stigma, limited awareness, weak health systems and persistent inequalities.
According to the WHO, the 2026 campaign urges governments and partners to translate scientific advances into concrete action by strengthening political commitment, increasing investment and expanding equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment and long-term care.
Global health data show that an estimated 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C in 2024, while 1.3 million people died from complications related to the two diseases during the same year.
The figures also highlight gaps in prevention. In 2024, only 45% of newborns worldwide received the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, the critical period for preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
Marking World Hepatitis Day in Timor-Leste, Dr. Arvind Mathur said hepatitis B and hepatitis C continue to affect communities across the country and stressed that many infections can be prevented through healthy lifestyles, safe practices, vaccination and early diagnosis.
“This World Hepatitis Day, let’s make our liver health a priority let’s eat well, avoid harmful habits, get vaccinated, and encourage our loved ones to get tested today,” he said.
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