Together, our stories
can change the way
the world sees viral
hepatitis. The stories
of those living with
or impacted by
viral hepatitis can
help educate and
raise awareness,
provide support
and inspiration,
tackle stigma and
discrimination, and
highlight the true
impact of this global
disease.
Each month we share the story
of someone whose life has been
affected by viral hepatitis. This
month, we hear from Sylvester from
Malawi who shares his story.
“ In April 2010, my close friend’s dad
needed a blood transfusion and I,
as usual, offered to donate blood. I
have always had the desire to help
others when the need arises. Whilst
undergoing the screening, I was
told that I have hepatitis B, I knew
nothing about it.
Unfortunately, the doctor who
screened me at the Government
Hospital seemed to be rushing to
the next appointmenr, frankly he
offered me very little information
about my diagnosis. I started trying
to find the right information on my
own, only then did I realize how big
hepatitis B is and what my diagnosis
truly meant.
I visited a specialist who explained
to me more about the disease and
my diagnosis and what I had to do
now I was diagnosed. I reluctantly
had to give up my favourite wine
and had to make some adjustments
to my life.
Today I can claim to know more
about hepatitis B because of the
information that I found out from
WHA member the Hepatitis B
Foundation. I want to say a big
thank you to them because without
their information, I would have died.
Before I got more information I was
suffering with anxiety, there was
no emphasis in my local hospital on
informing patients about hepatitis
B or C. HIV is at the centre of all
efforts and emphasis. Nobody talks
about hepatitis.
I want to change things and raise
more awareness of viral hepatitis
in Malawi. I will be taking part in
World Hepatitis Day and trying
to encourage journalists to cover
stories about the disease so we can
spread the word and encourage
more people to get screened and
know their status.
I feel like I am living my life like a
king now as I know what to avoid
and more importantly what to feed
my liver. I would like to encourage
others to get screened and look
after your liver”.
See more stories and submit your own at
www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/wall-stories
14 hep Voice December 2018
Examples from
around the world
Through the Find the Missing
Millions campaign, we are
highlighting best practice and
innovations in screening and
testing so that other organisations
can learn and develop their
national activities. Each month
we profile a successful diagnosis
initiative in hepVoice. This
month, we are highlighting the
efforts of WHA Member the Liver
Foundation of West Bengal.
Reaching the
Unreachable in West
Bengal
By Dr. Partha Sarathi Mukherjee,
Program Director, The Liver
Foundation of West Bengal
“It is crucial that
no one is left
behind, even
those that are
hardest to reach.”
“On World Hepatitis Day 2018,
together with partners, the
Liver Foundation of West Bengal
launched the “Reaching the
Unreachable” project with the aim
of finding people unaware of their
hepatitis diagnosis in West Bengal.
Of the 325 million people living
with viral hepatitis globally, upward
of 290 million (that’s 9 in 10) are
living with hepatitis B or hepatitis
C without knowing. Unless there
is a massive scale-up in screening,
diagnosis and linkage to care, more
people will become infected and
lives will continue to be lost.
In India, 68% of the population
live in rural areas, for many people
health services can be hard to
reach. The rural population of
India is greatly impacted by viral
hepatitis and to ensure we find all
of the estimated 52 million people
living with hepatitis B or hepatitis
C in India it is crucial that no one
is left behind, even those that are
hardest to reach.
In Sitarampur, a very remote village
7-8 km away from Ajodhya hill top
of Purulia district, we implemented
the “Reaching the Unreachable”
programme. We screened 459
people for hepatitis B and hepatitis
C over three days, including 44
primary health care practitioners
who work with the community.
The village has a total population
of 500, so we managed to see the
majority of the population.
Alongside the vaccination and
testing drive we also ensured the
residents of the village were made
aware of viral hepatitis so that they
could pass on their knowledge to
more people. We also achieved
some media coverage from the
event, further raising awareness of
hepatitis.”
hep Voice
November 2018 15