WHO, Health Ministry to hold awareness event on World Hepatitis Day

Mumbai, July 21 (IANS) In a bid to raise awareness about hepatitis among people as well as health care providers and policymakers, the World Health Organisation (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), is organising an event on World Hepatitis Day in Mumbai on July 28.

The theme for this year's World Hepatitis Day is "Know Hepatitis - Act Now".

Ahead of World Hepatitis Day, WHO is urging countries to take rapid action to improve knowledge about the disease and to increase access to testing and treatment services.

Apart from Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and senior officials from the health ministry and WHO, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan will also be present at the event.

Various stakeholders from the academia, clinicians, public health experts, civil society and partner agencies will also attend the event.

As part of the event, a technical consultation is also being organised to deliberate on the various aspects of hepatitis and understand the global strategy for hepatitis prevention and treatment.