Cebu GI Group to mark World Hepatitis Day

MANILA, Philippines - Every year on July 28, the World Hepatitis Alliance spearheads the celebration of the World Hepatitis Day.

This year, the Cebu Gastroenterology (GI) Group, in cooperation with the Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP), once more celebrates it locally in the hope of improving awareness of this potentially fatal disease.

First launched in 2008 by the World Hepatitis Alliance, the World Hepatitis Day is an annual event that provides international focus for patient groups and people living with hepatitis B and C.

An opportunity for interested groups to raise awareness and influence real change in disease prevention and access to testing and treatment, the event has, since its inception, drawn massive public and media interest around the world.

With this year’s theme, “This is hepatitis…,” its organizers hope to focus attention on the global story of viral hepatitis, and the real-life impact of this disease on countless Filipinos.

Put simply, hepatitis means inflammation of the liver and can be caused by a wide range of things. One of the most common causes of chronic (long-term) hepatitis is viral infection.

Hepatitis B and C are two such viruses and together kill approximately one million people a year. According to WHO, approximately 500 million people worldwide have either hepatitis B or hepatitis C. This represents one in 12 people and was the basis for the 2008 World Hepatitis Day “Am I Number 12?” campaign.

If left untreated and unmanaged, hepatitis B or C can lead to advanced liver scarring (also known as cirrhosis) and other complications, including liver cancer.

Locally, the series of activities will kick off with the simultaneous launch of liver clinics on July 28 at the outpatient departments of the following major hospitals in Cebu City:

Cebu Doctors University Hospital, Monday afternoon; Chong Hua Hospital, Monday afternoon; Cebu Velez General Hospital, Wednesday morning; Perpetual Succour Hospital, Wednesday morning; Visayas Community Medical Center, Wednesday afternoon; Cebu City Medical Center, Friday afternoon; and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Friday afternoon.

In these clinics, patients with liver disease will be entertained in the hope of amassing a local population patient database for record purposes and future expansion.

The group will also conduct a lay forum at 1 p.m. for the benefit and increased awareness of provincial health workers, at the provincial capitol.

To cap it all off, the Cebu GI Group will hold a Fun Run on Aug. 7 with the theme “Run for your Liver…Your Liver, Your Life.” The LiveRun will begin at the parking lot of Chong Hua Medical Arts building at 5:30 a.m.

Interested participants can join in the 3K, 6K or 12K categories for a registration fee of P300. Prizes will be raffled off to lucky participants.

In imparting the four vital educational messages of the theme “Get Protected. Get Tested. Get Vaccinated and Get Treated,” its organizers hope to bring home to the public the level of awareness needed to fight and triumph over this dreaded disease.