July 28, 2025, marks the 15th "World Hepatitis Day". This year’s publicity theme in China is "Joint Social Governance to Eliminate Hepatitis", aiming to mobilize the whole society to participate collectively. It seeks to effectively control the spread of viral hepatitis, reduce the incidence of hepatitis-related cirrhosis and liver cancer as well as associated deaths, advance toward the goal of "eliminating the public health threats of viral hepatitis by 2030", and lay a solid foundation for building a Healthy China.

Globally, the shadow of viral hepatitis continues to spread unchecked. Data from the World Health Organization shows that 1.3 million people die from viral hepatitis each year, with the death toll still on the rise. It is estimated that there are nearly 10 million people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in China. Despite the large number, awareness remains low, posing a risk of hidden transmission, and a significant number of new infections still occur annually.

Joint Social Governance: Pooling Efforts for Liver Health

Eliminating hepatitis cannot be achieved by a single individual or group alone.

This year’s theme of "joint social governance" underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration: For individuals, it is crucial to proactively learn about hepatitis. High-risk groups (such as family members of hepatitis B patients, medical workers, and those on long-term hemodialysis) should undergo regular screenings. If diagnosed, they must not rely on unproven folk remedies, but instead seek timely, standardized treatment at legitimate medical institutions.

At the societal level, it is necessary to eliminate discrimination against hepatitis patients and foster an inclusive environment. Medical institutions should optimize testing services to make screening more accessible to more people. Media outlets and public welfare organizations can step up public education efforts to dispel misconceptions such as "hepatitis is a terminal illness" and "it spreads through daily contact.

From "awareness" to "action", and from "individual protection" to "joint social governance", every effort brings us closer to the 2030 goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat. On this World Hepatitis Day, let us all become guardians of liver health.