World Hepatitis Day is celebrated every July 28. This international celebration aims to raise awareness of Hepatitis virus, which causes severe disease and inflammation of the liver, including liver cancer. The celebration of World Hepatitis Day was initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
World Hepatitis Day 2023 carries the theme “One Life, One Liver” which means “One Life, One Heart”. With this theme, WHO wants to invite the public to be more aware of hepatitis because this disease can destroy one life and one heart in every human being.
July 28 was chosen as World Hepatitis Day because it is the birthday of a scientist, Dr. Baruch Blumberg who won the Nobel prize. He discovered the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test as well as a vaccine for the virus.
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In 1967, Dr. Blumberg discovered the Hepatitis B virus, and two years later, he developed the first Hepatitis B vaccine. This achievement culminated when Dr. Blumberg won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or medicine in 1976.
International Organizations like World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC, celebrated World Hepatitis Day to increase awareness about Hepatitis virus that is impacting lives around the world. Hepatitis World Day creates an opportunity to educate people about Hepatitis and actions that should be taken to prevent this disease.
Source: Detik
