Ziqitza - World Hepatitis Day
                     Ziqitza - World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day is observed every year on 28th July 
worldwide to spread awareness and promote global action 
against viral hepatitis. Hepatitis majorly affects the liver and 
causes inflammation of it. Hepatitis can be broadly 
categorised into five main kinds - A, B, C, D and E. 
Ziqitza Healthcare ltd, one of India’s renowned healthcare 
institutions, explains that Hepatitis A and E are commonly 
caused due to consumption of contaminated food and 
water. Ziqitza further explains that Hepatitis B is largely 
sexually transmitted; however it can also be transferred 
from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth. 
Hepatitis C is spread by infected blood - for instance, during 
needle sharing by intravenous drug users. Hepatitis D only 
infects those who were already infected by Hepatitis B. 
Together, Hepatitis B and C have caused chronic disease in millions of 
people globally, and are also infamous for causing liver cirrhosis, liver 
cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths. While pointing at statistics, 
Ziqitza Healthcare remarked that as of the year 2019, around 116 
million people from the Western Pacific are living with Hepatitis B 
and an estimated 10 million people are suffering from Hepatitis C. 
Ziqitza further states that while there are scientific and evidence-
based methodologies available for diagnosis, treatment and 
prevention of Hepatitis B and C, majority of the people remain 
undiagnosed and untreated. 
World Hepatitis Day is one of eleven official global public health 
campaigns observed by the World Health Organization. The other 
campaigns are, World Health Day, World Chagas Disease Day, World 
Blood Donor Day, World Malaria Day, World Immunization Week, 
World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Antimicrobial 
Awareness Week, World Patient Safety Day, and World AIDS Day.
Bringing hepatitis care closer to you
The theme for this year’s Hepatitis Day is ‘Bringing hepatitis 
care closer to you’. Ziqitza Rajasthan explains that this year’s 
theme aims to raise awareness about bringing hepatitis care 
out from hospitals to primary health care centres, 
community-based venues and locations other than hospitals. 
The idea is to make hepatitis care accessible. ZHL Rajasthan 
points out that the global health sector strategies for 2022-
2020 devised by WHO also concentrates on the importance 
of people-centred care, more importantly, person-centred 
care and mobilisation of systems and services to achieve 
hepatitis elimination by the year 2030. To achieve complete 
elimination of hepatitis, a minimum of 60 percent of people 
suffering from hepatitis B and C must be diagnosed and 50% 
must be receiving treatment by 2025.
Establishing quality hepatitis services: Ziqitza Limited states 
that elimination of Hepatitis is only possible when access to 
hepatitis services and care is made affordable, accessible. The 
healthcare infrastructure needs to be effective, efficient and 
equitable as well.
 
Adopting patient’s first attitude: Countries must decentralise 
hepatitis care and move it out from hospitals and bring it close 
to the communities. Hepatitis care must be brought to 
peripheral health facilities, community venues. 
 
Training all health professionals about Hepatitis: 
Ziqitza Limited Rajasthan points out that decentralised hepatitis 
care and treatment can only reach people when, each and every 
health professionals, non-specialist doctors and nurses are 
trained about hepatitis care and treatment.
Interlink hepatitis care with existing public health services: 
Hepatitis treatment and care can be coupled with other primary 
healthcare programmes, and integrated and interlinked with HIV 
awareness programmes, prison health services, and harm 
reduction services (OSTs and needle exchange programs). 
 
Ensure resilient and equitable health systems: Building a strong 
and resilient healthcare system plays a crucial role in eliminating 
hepatitis. Strong healthcare systems and adequately funded 
delivery mechanisms are vital in achieving hepatitis elimination. 
Ziqitza Health care limited essays that India can look at 
increased adoption of the public private partnership model to 
work towards eradication of Hepatitis.