One life, one liver.
Expanding access to diagnosis and treatment to save lives
July 28, 2023
On World Hepatitis Day 2023, we call on countries: now is the time to scale up diagnosis and treatment.
Viral hepatitis is a silent killer that claims countless lives each year, with symptoms only appearing in the advanced stages of the disease. In the Americas, nearly 80,000 new hepatitis B and C infections occur each year, most of which go unnoticed.
result? There are more than 100,000 hepatitis-related deaths each year.
But the key is: Prevention is possible! The existence of a vaccine and effective treatments offers hope for all. Adults and children can get the hepatitis B vaccine, and hepatitis C can be cured with a safe oral treatment. For pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B, knowing their status and getting treatment is critical to preventing mother-to-child transmission. PAHO works with countries in the region to expand access to viral hepatitis diagnostic tests, medicines and vaccines through strategic and revolving funds.
Together we can eliminate hepatitis in the Americas and achieve the PAHO goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030. Let’s reduce the number of new cases and avoid unnecessary deaths from hepatitis B and C infection.
Press release:
Increased access to viral hepatitis diagnoses and medicines could save up to 100,000 lives per year in the Americas
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