World Hepatitis Day: Let's raise the awareness to Protect Lives
I am welcoming you all to my blog, and I want to believe you all are doing well and enjoying your good health. I have always found it as a pleasure to share meaningful topics with this wonderful community.
Today, I would be discussing about World Hepatitis Day, which is marked every year on 28th July as regulated by the United Nations and enforced globally by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The focal point of this special day is to raise awareness about hepatitis, educate to make people know how it spreads, encourage people to go on early testing and treatment, and to also remind governments and individuals that hepatitis is still a major public health challenge.
A lot of people are living with hepatitis even without knowing it because, it may not really show the symptoms during the early stages. This is the reason everyone has to be involved in creating the awareness and education.
What Is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is described as an inflammation of the liver. The liver, being one of the indispensable organs in the human body enables the body system to digest food, remove harmful substances from the blood, store nutrients, and also perform many other important functions.
Information causes the liver not to function properly, and this may lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
According to information from health experts, different types of viral hepatitis exists. The types are: Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. While A and D are less dangerous and may cause short term illnesses , B and C are dangerous and can become chronic. It may even lead to what the health experts refer to as "liver cirrhosis, liver failure, or even liver cancer" if they are not taken care of properly.
How Hepatitis is Transmitted
The means of how hepatitis is transmitted depends on the type of hepatitis. Our health professionals informs us that Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E are commonly spread through poisoned or contaminated food or drinking water including dirty environment.
They go further to say that Hepatitis B is directly transmitted by having contact with infected blood or body fluids. It can also go viral through having unprotected sex, exchange of contaminated needles or sharp objects, transfusion of unscreened blood into the body system or even from an infected mother to her baby in the course of childbirth.
Hepatitis C is gotten directly from contact with infected blood by sharing needles or using unsterilized medical equipment.
It now becomes that to maintain good hygiene, ensure safe medical practices, and to avoid behaviors that are health-risky, is very important.
Is Hepatitis Curable and Preventable?
This is a question that could be ringing in the minds of many who may be coming across this health challenge. Well, there is a relief or good news about it. Some types of hepatitis is preventable, treated, and in some cases could be cured.
For Hepatitis A, it usually resolves on its own with by having proper medical care and adequate rest. For Hepatitis C, it can now be cured in many people by using modern antiviral medicines given by healthcare professionals.
For Hepatitis B, it does not currently have a complete cure. Having effective treatments are available to control the infection, protect the liver, and encouraging people to live healthy lifestyle Preventing it remains the best option and approach. One of the most effective ways that can be used to prevent Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B types is by vaccination. Some other preventive measures that could be taken as put forward by health experts include:
- Washing hands regularly
- Drinking clean water
- Eating food that are properly prepared
Avoiding the sharing of needles, razors, or toothbrushes - Making sure blood is screened before transfusion
- Practicing safe sex
- Seeking prompt medical attention whenever you notice unusual symptoms
Also note that regular medical check-ups and early testing are also very important as early diagnosis would give people a better chance of receiving effective treatment before degenerates to serious health complications.
World Hepatitis Day has come to inform us that hepatitis is a disease we should take serious measures to prevent. With proper awareness such as this post that I made, vaccination, early testing, and timely treatment, millions of lives can be protected from the disease.
We all have a role to play by sharing information, encouraging people to know their hepatitis status, and supporting efforts of health experts, government, and other stakeholders aimed at eliminating the scourge of hepatitis as a threat to public health safety.
Just as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. We should all continue to take care of our health and encourage our families, neighbours, and communities to do the same.
I thank everyone of you so much, for taking the time to read my post. I sincerely appreciate your support and encouragement.
Have you ever been tested for hepatitis or received the hepatitis vaccine? In what other ways or means do you think we can create more awareness about this disease? I will be happy to read your thoughts as we share in the comment section.
Thank you!
