Diagnosing hepatitis early can save people from developing severe liver damage including liver cancer, which is the third leading cause of cancer deaths globally. However, hepatitis testing in many countries remains poor.
Of the 50 million people living with hepatitis C globally in 2022, only 36% were aware of their infection and 20% had been treated. Of the 254 million people living with hepatitis B, only 13% were aware of their infection and 3% had been treated.
“Testing is the major improvement that's needed in every country in Asia and most countries globally,” Dr. John Ward, director of the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, told Devex.
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About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
