By Sitha Maliwa:
Today, the world unites to shine a light on one of the most persistent and under-recognised global health challenges: hepatitis. Marked under the theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” World Hepatitis Day 2025 focuses on increasing awareness, dismantling stigma, and expanding access to prevention, testing, and treatment.
Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver and is most often caused by viral infections. Five main viruses – hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E – are responsible for the majority of cases. While hepatitis A and E usually lead to short-term illness, hepatitis B and C can linger in the body for years without symptoms, gradually causing serious damage such as cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.
Despite the severity of the disease, it remains vastly underdiagnosed. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 300 million people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis B or C. In 2022 alone, viral hepatitis caused an estimated 1.3 million deaths, a toll on par with HIV and tuberculosis. Yet more than half of those infected do not know they have the virus. This lack of awareness allows the disease to continue spreading silently and untreated.
Effective tools already exist to combat hepatitis. There is a safe and effective vaccine to prevent hepatitis B, and modern antiviral medicines can cure most cases of hepatitis C. However, the real barrier to eliminating hepatitis lies in insufficient public understanding, limited access to healthcare services, and the stigma that discourages people from seeking help.
Hepatitis often presents no symptoms in its early stages. When signs do appear – such as fatigue, nausea, abdominal discomfort, or yellowing of the skin and eyes – they are often mistaken for other conditions. This makes regular testing essential, especially for those at higher risk.
Lizeth Kruger, Dis-Chem Clinic Executive, emphasizes that early detection can mean the difference between life and death. “If you have contracted chronic hepatitis, like hepatitis B or C, you may not show symptoms until significant liver damage has already occurred. Early diagnosis through testing is critical to preventing serious liver damage and saving lives.
Kruger also stresses the importance of addressing stigma. “When people feel safe to talk about their diagnosis and access care without fear, we can dramatically improve health outcomes and move closer to eliminating this disease.”
Kruger adds that preventing hepatitis starts with education and awareness. Understanding how the viruses spread – through contaminated food or water, unprotected sex, contact with infected blood, and shared personal items – is key to breaking the chain of transmission. Practicing good hygiene, using sterile equipment, and accessing clean water and sanitation are also vital in reducing risk.
She argues that World Hepatitis Day is not just a moment of reflection – it’s a call to action. Everyone can help by learning the facts, talking openly about hepatitis, encouraging others to get tested, and supporting the integration of hepatitis services into routine healthcare. She says the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030 is within reach, but it will take a collective effort to get there.- @NewsSA_Online
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