July 28, 2013 is the 6th anniversary of World Hepatitis Day. Sponsored by the World Hepatitis Alliance, this day provides international focus for patient groups and people living with hepatitis B and C. This event is an opportunity in which interested groups can raise awareness and influence real change in disease prevention and access to testing and treatment. The two main themes of this year’s World Hepatitis Day are:
- This is hepatitis. Know it. Confront it.
- See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil.
There are currently 500 million people worldwide who are living with either chronic hepatitis B or C, which is far higher than the prevalence of HIV or any cancer, yet awareness continues to be low and the majority of those infected are unaware. Through the promotion of the above themes there is hope that the focus this year will be on both the real-life impact of viral hepatitis and a call to change the fact that hepatitis is being overlooked around the world.
Gaining knowledge about important topics such as the global scale of viral hepatitis, the risks of becoming infected, where/when to get tested, and how to avoid becoming infected are steps that can be taken in order to increase awareness, prevention, and change strategies. TRAIN, the nation’s premier learning management network for professionals and volunteers who protect the public’s health, offers local, state, and national trainings that public health professionals can utilize in preventing and treating viral hepatitis. Some of the online hepatitis trainings include:
To embark upon trainings within the hepatitis subject area, create a TRAIN account today and start learning now by taking one of the courses offered. To learn more about World Hepatitis Day and how you or your organization can get involved visit the World Hepatitis Alliance’s page.