World Hepatitis Day 2023
The World Health Organization (WHO) has marked 28 July as “World Hepatitis Day” to promote and raise public awareness on hepatitis. This year the Department of Health adopts “Test hepatitis B Save your life” as the theme to promote the importance of hepatitis B testing and medical follow-up, particularly among family members and sexual partners of people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and those with a higher risk of infection.
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong, accounting for about 1500 registered deaths each year. CHB is the major cause of liver cancer. Hepatitis B virus can be transmitted from mothers to their babies, or through contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person or sexual contact. Some infected people fail to clear the virus and develop CHB. About 15-40% of untreated people with CHB could develop life-threatening cirrhosis and liver cancer.
As one of the focuses in the Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2020-2024, early identification and management of people with CHB is crucial to reduce the disease burden caused by CHB.
For the newly developed video and more health educational materials, please click the links below:
Public health talk and exhibition on “Hepatitis B virus infection”
The Viral Hepatitis Control Office (VHCO), the Department of Health collaborates with Kwun Tong District Health Centre Express and Tuen Mun District Health Centre to conduct a public health talk on 11 July 2023 and 1 Aug 2023 respectively. It covers information on hepatitis B and promotes the importance of hepatitis B testing and medical follow-up. Please click here for health talk materials (only Chinese version available).
Wong Tai Sin District Health Centre, Tsuen Wan District Health Centre and Kwai Tsing District Health Centre launched exhibitions on hepatitis B. Please click here for exhibition materials (only Chinese version available).
“翡翠絲帶擊退乙肝2023” Health promotion activity
VHCO participated in a health promotion activity on hepatitis B organised by Hong Kong Hep B Free Foundation on 23 July 2023. Please click here for information.
Other information
- Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2020-2024
- Press Release
- Facebook post of Centre for Health Protection
- RTHK Healthpedia Radio Interview (only Chinese version available)
- Metro Radio Interview (only Chinese version available)
- Sing Pao Column on hepatitis B (only Chinese version available)
- Ming Pao Column on hepatitis B (only Chinese version available)
- Thematic page of “World Hepatitis Day” by WHO
- iContinuing education (iCE) and training materials for health professionals
