The World Health Organization (WHO) says access to prevention, testing and treatment for viral hepatitis as a public health threat globally, remains far too low.

WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebhreyesus stated this in his message on World Hepatitis Day which falls on 28 July annually.

“We’ve made real progress in some countries on preventing and treating viral hepatitis and expanding infant vaccination,” he said.

Data from WHO shows that a person dies every second from a hepatitis related illness even in the current covid-19 crisis.

“Over 350 million people have chronic viral hepatitis an estimated 80% of them can’t access the care they need,as a reason 3000 people die everyday from liver Cirrhosis and liver cancer,” Dr Ghebreyesus said.

The WHO’s global hepatitis strategy aims to reduce new hepatisis B and C by 90% and deaths by 65% between 2016 and 2030.

World Hepatitis Day is being commemorated under the theme “Hepatitis can’t wait”.