World Hepatitis Day 2024
The World Health Organization has marked 28 July as “World Hepatitis Day” to promote and raise public awareness on hepatitis. This year the Department of Health (DH) adopts “Managing hepatitis B for healthy living” as the theme to remind people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to have regular examination and receive treatment and medical follow-up as instructed for disease management. DH also encourages citizens with unknown hepatitis B infection and immune status to consult their family doctors for hepatitis B testing.
As derived from the results from the Thematic Report on Viral Hepatitis (Population Health Survey 2020-22) published by the DH late last year, about 5.6% of the Hong Kong population (~410,000 people) have hepatitis B. People with CHB may remain asymptomatic until signs and symptoms develop secondary to serious liver damage. About 15-40% of untreated people with CHB could develop serious complications, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. About 80% of liver cancer patients in Hong Kong are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Oral antiviral medication is effective in inhibiting HBV replication and greatly reducing the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Doctors will thoroughly assess the condition of each person with CHB to determine when antiviral medication is needed. All people with CHB, no matter whether they are receiving antiviral treatment, should have regular follow-up and examination for early detection and management of changes in liver condition.
For related health educational materials, please click the links below:
- “What you need to know about hepatitis B” pamphlet
- “Healthy Living with Chronic Hepatitis B” pamphlet
- “Hepatitis B vaccine” pamphlet
- “Hepatitis B can cause cancer Get tested and treated early” poster
- Thematic page of “Hepatitis B”
- Video series of “Viral Hepatitis” on YouTube Channel of Centre for Health Protection
Health promotion events with District Health Centres and Expresses
Between June and August, Viral Hepatitis Control Office, the DH collaborates with District Health Centre (DHC) and District Health Centre Express (DHCE) to conduct a series of health promotion events, which aim to raise public awareness on hepatitis B. These include public health talks, covering information on hepatitis B and promoting the importance of hepatitis B testing and regular medical follow-up, and exhibitions on “Hepatitis B virus infection”. Interactive health promotion booths are also held to educate the public about the transmission routes and management of hepatitis B. For details of the health promotion events, please refer to the table below:
| Date | Activities | Co-organisers |
|---|---|---|
| 28 June | Public health talk | Sai Kung DHCE (Sheung Tak Estate service point) |
| 3 July | Health promotion booth (“Partnering in the Health Journey” event) |
Sai Kung DHCE |
| 4 July | Public health talk | Tai Po DHCE |
| 10 July | Public health talk and health promotion booth | Kwai Tsing DHC |
| 19 July | Health promotion booth | Sham Shui Po DHC |
| 20 July | Health promotion booth | Kwai Tsing DHC |
| 24 July | Public health talk | Eastern DHCE |
| 30 July | Public health talk | Sai Kung DHCE (Po Lam Estate core centre) |
| 1 August | Public health talk | Yau Tsim Mong DHCE |
| July to August | Exhibitions on “Hepatitis B virus infection” | Sai Kung DHCE, Kwai Tsing DHC and Sham Shui Po DHC |
For health education materials for the general public, please click here for details (Health talk materials and exhibition materials).
Other information
- Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2020-2024
- Facebook posts of Centre for Health Protection
- RTHK Healthpedia Radio Interview(only Chinese version available)
- Thematic page of “World Hepatitis Day” by WHO
- iContinuing education (iCE) and training materials for health professionals
