World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, mostly caused by a viral infection that progresses to severe liver disease and liver cancer. Hepatitis is a major public health problem across the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region, affecting 27 million people and leading to an estimated 97 000 preventable deaths each year.
On World Hepatitis Day 2025, WHO is urging communities, policy-makers and health authorities to commit to coordinated action to eliminate hepatitis. Under the theme Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down, this year’s campaign calls for urgent action to (a) dismantle the financial, social and systemic barriers – including stigma – that stand in the way of eliminating hepatitis and preventing liver cancer, and (b) scale up and integrate hepatitis services – vaccination, safe injection practices, harm reduction and, most importantly, testing and treatment – into national health systems.
There has been significant progress in the Region. In 2023, Egypt became the first country globally to achieve gold tier status on the path towards elimination of hepatitis C, as per WHO criteria. Through the 100 Million Seha presidential initiative, more than 60 million people were screened for hepatitis and over 4.3 million received free treatment. These efforts account for 70% of hepatitis C treatment in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and 35% of the global total, and have resulted in a 35% drop in hepatitis-related deaths since 2018.
In December 2024, Egypt became the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve hepatitis B control status, reducing hepatitis B prevalence to less than 1% among children aged 5 and above and maintaining coverage of over 90%.
In 2024, Pakistan announced its own ambitious programme for hepatitis C elimination and domestic funding has already been mobilized to test and treat 50% of the eligible population by 2027.
“We need greater political commitment and sustained investment to scale up proven interventions: hepatitis B vaccination, universal testing and treatment, integration into maternal and child health services, sustainable financing and data-driven action. I urge governments and partners to scale up and renew joint action to remove the barriers to elimination. Together, we can end hepatitis – and save lives,” said WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy.
To eliminate hepatitis, governments, civil society and communities need to take urgent action at every level.
The public should get tested for hepatitis B and C, especially during pregnancy, ensure that newborns receive the hepatitis B birth dose within 24 hours, and practice stringent infection prevention.
Policy-makers must expand birth-dose vaccinations, integrate affordable testing and treatment into primary health care services and include hepatitis care in universal health coverage and national insurance schemes.
It’s time to break the silos, break the stigma and dismantle the barriers that prevent people from accessing the care they deserve. Nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of eliminating hepatitis and preventing liver cancer.
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