We are pleased to announce that the World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board has agreed to recommend a resolution on viral hepatitis to the World Health Assembly in May.

The World Hepatitis Alliance has been working intensively to secure support for this resolution and we are delighted the the Executive Board reached a consensus and that it will now be debated by all 193 Member States of the WHO. If adopted, the resolution would for the first time provide a robust framework for international action to prevent, diagnose and treat hepatitis B and C.

World Hepatitis Day: The resolution that has been agreed by the WHO Executive Board recommends that member states mark World Hepatitis Day on 28 July, in recognition of the birthday of Prof Baruch Blumberg, who first discovered the hepatitis B virus.  However, as with the rest of the resolution, this requires agreement by the World Health Assembly, which does not take place until the week of 17 May. World Hepatitis Day 2010 will therefore be going ahead, as planned, on 19 May. We will then be working with the WHO on the preparations for future Days, as well as other aspects of the resolution.
 
We hope you agree that this resolution is an important milestone for the hepatitis community, and we look forward to your support ahead of the World Health Assembly in May.

If you have any questions regarding this press release please email contact@worldhepatitisalliance.org