Let’s break down the barriers which are holding us back from a hepatitis-free world! Today is the World Hepatitis Day!

Viral hepatitis is preventable, detectable, treatable, and, for some types, curable. Despite this, in 2024, viral hepatitis B and C caused 1.3 million deaths worldwide, mostly from liver cirrhosis and cancer.

The Ministry of Health of Armenia, the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), and WHO participated in a conference to commemorate World Hepatitis Day organised by Armenian Association of Hepatology and Union of Clinical Infectious Disease Specialists. The event brought together nearly 200 healthcare professionals to reaffirm the commitment to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat.

Under the theme “Hepatitis – Let’s Break It Down,” the conference showcased the latest advances in prevention, testing, diagnosis, treatment, harm reduction, and integrated care, while strengthening collaboration among clinicians, public health experts, researchers, and policymakers.

In his opening remarks, Armen Ohanyan, NCID Director, noted that Armenia continues to move forward with confident steps towards eliminating viral hepatitis, trying to approach the targets set by WHO for 2030. He emphasized that the new order of the national hepatitis C treatment program approved a few days ago is an important step in the decentralization of treatment, aiming to make treatment more accessible to everyone and everywhere. The strategic changes being made in the country in the field of viral hepatitis will contribute to the early detection of the disease, expand access to treatment, and thereby prevent new cases of the disease.

Welcoming the participants Dr Siddhartha Datta, WHO Representative in Armenia mentioned, “Everyone should be able to benefit from WHO-recommended hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment and care services. Expanding access for vulnerable populations through people-centred, integrated service delivery is essential to reducing inequalities”. Dr Datta reaffirmed WHO commitment to supporting Armenia on the path towards hepatitis elimination.

Dr Stela Bivol, Regional Adviser for HIV, VH and STIs, WHO European Region Office shared regional progress and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Armenia on its path towards hepatitis elimination.