WORLD HEPATITIS DAY 2016

That this House notes World Hepatitis Day falls on 28 July 2016; further notes that tens of millions of people across the globe are affected by the various strands of hepatitis, with an estimated 240 million currently affected by chronic hepatitis B alone; welcomes that in May 2016, member states of the World Health Organisation adopted the first ever Elimination Strategy for Viral Hepatitis; notes that the theme for World Hepatitis Day 2016 is elimination; believes that to achieve elimination, greater awareness, increased diagnosis and key interventions, including universal vaccination, blood and injection safety, harm reduction and treatment are all needed; gives its full support to NOhep, a global elimination movement which is bringing people together to engage and take action to ensure global commitments are met and viral hepatitis is eliminated by 2030; backs World Hepatitis Day as an initiative raising awareness of the infection; and encourages Ministers to do all they can with international partners to ensure treatment for all affected and to help eliminate hepatitis.