World Hepatitis Day Observed

The World Hepatitis Day was observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere across the globe on Tuesday, May 19th. Different health-related and social development organizations of Bangladesh arranged a series of events to mark the day. The Liver Foundation of Bangladesh organized a day-long program that included rallies, seminars, screening documentaries on aspects of Hepatitis-B & C, publication and distribution of leaflets and brochures. As part of the programme, in the morning, a colorful rally- started from the Martyr Memorial and ended at the National Museum at Shahbag in Dhaka. Following the rally, there was a special seminar attended by the Minister for Social Welfare Mr Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid, at the national museum, as the event’s Chief Guest, while Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, and Prof. Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Vice Chancellor of BRAC University, were present in the seminar as Special guests.

The Government’s Social Welfare Minister made a plea to all stakeholders and interest groups to provide necessary support to the activities of Liver Foundation of Bangladesh for control of viral hepatitis in the country. WHO country Representative, Dr Duangvadee, pointed out that hepatitis B and C represent one of the biggest threats to global health, killing approximately 1.5 million people a year. More than 500 million people around the world are currently infected with the virus and one in three people have been exposed to one or both viruses.

In strong support of the theme to mark the Day, the Government of Bangladesh and WHO pledged to undertake myriad programmes to raise awareness on the ill effects of chronic viral hepatitis B and C, so that health conditions such as chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and cancer of the liver, are reduced and treated quickly. As a result, it is hoped that the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh may decline gradually.