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World hepatitis day 2025:This year’s theme and call for clean water and better sanitation

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World hepatitis day 2025:This year’s theme and call for clean water and better sanitation

Srinagar, July 28: World hepatitis day- theme and awareness World Hepatitis Day is observed globally every year on 28 July, and in 2025, it falls on a Monday. The day raises awareness about hepatitis—a liver inflammation that can lead to serious conditions like liver disease and cancer.

The significance of the day is also tied to Dr. Baruch Samuel Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967 and developed the first vaccine. His groundbreaking work earned him the Nobel Prize. Viral hepatitis affects more than 300 million people worldwide and leads to more than 1 million deaths each year. Despite effective vaccines, prevention strategies, and medications, deaths from hepatitis are increasing globally.

CDC and other organizations around the world recognize WHD by raising awareness about viral hepatitis, the burdens people with hepatitis face, ongoing work to combat viral hepatitis across the globe, and actions people can take to prevent future transmission.

The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2025 is Let’s Break It Down, which encourages immediate action to eliminate financial, social, and systemic barriers—including stigma—to hepatitis elimination and liver cancer prevention.

The theme signifies simplifying, expanding, and integrating hepatitis services—vaccination, safe injection practices, harm reduction, and, most importantly, testing and treatment—into national health systems.

Kashmir is witnessing a concerning rise in Hepatitis A cases, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and water supply. Health experts attribute the increase to contaminated water, poor hygiene practices, and low public awareness. Symptoms include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, and fever, but the infection is preventable through vaccination and better sanitation.

A paediatrician warned that children are especially vulnerable due to greater exposure to unsafe environments. He stressed the need for public health campaigns, infrastructure upgrades, and timely interventions to curb the spread
Simple everyday precautions to Prevent Hepatitis A
1. Ensure Clean Drinking Water
Drink only boiled, filtered, or bottled water.
Avoid water from open or untreated sources (springs, rivers, etc.).
2. Practice Good Hand Hygiene
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and clean water, especially after using the toilet and before eating or cooking.
3. Eat Safe, Cooked Food
Avoid street food or raw/uncooked meals.
Ensure fruits and vegetables are washed with clean water or peeled before eating.
4. Vaccinate Against Hepatitis A
o The Hepatitis A vaccine is safe and effective, especially recommended for children and those in high-risk areas.
5. Maintain Proper Sanitation
Use proper toilets, avoid open defecation.
Safely dispose of waste and ensure proper sewage systems.
6. Avoid Sharing Personal Items
Do not share items like toothbrushes, utensils, or razors that could be contaminated.

Greater Kashmir