World Hepatitis Day Saturday

DHAKA: World Hepatitis Day will be observed Saturday in the country as elsewhere in the world for enhancing awareness against the deadly virus.

The theme of this year is `It`s closer than you think`.

Different organizations have chalked out various programmes to mark the day.

World Hepatitis Day is marked by World Health Organisation (WHO) to increase the awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases that it causes.

It provides an opportunity to focus on specific actions such as: strengthening prevention, screening and control of viral hepatitis and its related diseases; increasing hepatitis B vaccine coverage and integration into national immunization programmes; and coordinating a global response to hepatitis.

Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E can cause acute and chronic infection and inflammation of the liver leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

These viruses constitute a major global health risk with around 240 million people being chronically infected with hepatitis B and around 150 million people being chronically infected with hepatitis C.

BDST: 2007 HRS, JUL 27, 2012
Edited by: Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Sr Newsroom Editor