FOR ATTENTION:	News Editors
SUBJECT:	2018 World Hepatitis Day
	25 July 2018

Hepatitis causes more than one million deaths a year and is one of the largest global health threats of our time.

 

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and causes two in every three liver cancer deaths. There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. Types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.

 

Typical symptoms of Hepatitis can include fatigue, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, pale stool, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss and yellow skin and eyes.

 

World hepatitis day is on 28 July 2018 and aims to create awareness about Hepatitis and the importance of being tested and treated. There are over 300 million people that are living with viral hepatitis in the world, yet up to 290 million of these are unaware that they have this virus.

“The 2018 theme petitions us to test for the virus to eliminate the millions of people living unknowingly with Hepatitis, and reminds those that are on treatment to adhere to their treatment plans. The South African Nursing Council would like to encourage the public to go for hepatitis testing even if they have do not have any of the symptoms mentioned as testing is the only means of knowing if you are infected.
We also urge nurses to continue with their efforts in combating the spread of this deadly disease and exercise the necessary caution when treating infected patients,” says Ms Sizeni Mchunu, SANC Registrar.

Remember: Testing is the only way to know if you are infected – Test, then Treat.

 

ENDS

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

 

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on Tel (012) 426 -9542 or  email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za