It’s Time For Action. Test It. Treat It. 

We are at a crucial stage in the global drive to end viral hepatitis by 2030.

We have the tools to achieve this now – there is a cure for hepatitis C and a vaccine and effective treatments for hepatitis B. However, treatment alone is not enough.

Stigma and discrimination continue to be significant barriers to accessing care. To overcome these challenges, we must prioritise peer-led health promotion and community-driven approaches that offer safe, inclusive, and meaningful care.

Why does this matter:

• Globally, a person dies every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness.
• More than 74,000 people in Victoria are living with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, putting them at increased risk of liver disease and liver cancer.
• Liver cancer is the fastest known increasing cause of cancer death in Australia.
• In Victoria nearly 40% of people with hepatitis C have not received the antiviral curative treatment.
• While it is estimated that 70% of people living with chronic hepatitis B have been diagnosed, less than 30% are receiving care.
• Currently Routine blood tests do NOT screen for the hepatitis virus – patients must request it.
• We need population-wide testing of hepatitis B, so that every Australian knows their hepatitis B status and can get appropriate treatment and care.

Why July 28?

28 July is World Hepatitis Day (WHD) – one of nine urgent International Health days highlighted by the World Health Organization and partners across the globe.

The date of 28 July was chosen for World Hepatitis Day (WHD) in honour of the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus and developer of the first hepatitis B vaccine based on research of the Australian antigen.

Visit our Shout for Good page to make a donation that can help us in the fight to end hepatitis by 2030.

LiverWELL supports a range of partners to host events through the Incentives Program, including events for the general public, health care organisations and communities where the prevalence of viral hepatitis is high. The 2024 events are listed below:

Other events

• World Hepatitis Day Joint Symposium, Burnet & Doherty Institutes –  27 July
• North Richmond Community Health World Hepatitis Day event – July 28, Richmond
• Springvale Snow Festival stall – July 30 
• ‘Keeping the Flame’  World Hepatitis Day webinar,  Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League – 30 July
• VHBA  Annual Spotlight on hepatitis B – August  3 – 15th

World Hepatitis Day: https://www.worldhepatitisday.org/

Hep Aus: https://www.hepatitisaustralia.com/

See what other states are doing:

Hepatitis New South Wales: https://www.hep.org.au/

Hepatitis SA: https://hepatitissa.asn.au/

Hepatitis WA: https://www.hepatitiswa.com.au/

Hepatitis Queensland: https://www.hepqld.asn.au/

Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatiits Council Inc.: https://www.ntahc.org.au/

Hepatitis ACT: https://hepatitisact.org.au/

Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis & Related Diseases: https://redthread.org.au/

Our 2024 Campaign:

Our mythbusting videos:

Youtube and TikTok

Hep C Rap Video

Billboards

Preston, Murray Road (Northland Shopping Centre) and Richmond, Burnley Street (Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre)

Monuments lighting up green around Victoria:

• Flinders Street Station, Melbourne
• Drum Theatre, Dandenong
• Ballarat Clocktower
• Bendigo Conservatory

More locations to be added!

Download Hepatitis Australia’s World Hepatitis Day Factsheet for more information and sources.

Sources

MacLachlan JH, Romero N, Purcell I, Cowie BC. Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project: Hepatitis B National Report 2022. Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia: ASHM; 2024. Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project: Hepatitis B :: National Report 2022 (ashm.org.au)

MacLachlan JH, Purcell I, Romero N, Cowie BC. Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project: Hepatitis C National Report 2021–2023. Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia: ASHM; 2024. Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project: Hepatitis C :: National Report 2021-2023 (ashm.org.au)