WHO says Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal & Thailand achieve Hepatitis B control

  1. According to World Health Organization(WHO) report on World Hepatitis Day on July 28,it has found that viral hepatitis kills 4 lakh people every year.
  2. The report has said that investing $6bn per year in eliminating hepatitis in 67 low and middle-income countries would avert 4.5 million premature deaths by 2030.
  3. The report has also said that total of $58.7 billion is needed to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in these 67 countries by 2030. This means reducing new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65%.
  4. The report has also called on all countries to invest in eliminating hepatitis through costing,budgeting and financing of elimination services within their universal health coverage plans.
  5. The report has also said Bangladesh along with Bhutan,Nepal and Thailand in South-East Asia Region has been able to achieve Hepatitis B control. 
  6. Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by five known hepatitis viruses — A, B, C, D and E.Hepatitis B and C are transmitted by unsafe injection practices,infected blood and blood products,sexual transmission and from mother to child. Th infections may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancers.