Hepatitis Atlas

One of the main concerns of the World Hepatitis Alliance is the lack of available data on chronic hepatitis B and C. As it stands, even the most recent data from the World Health Organization date back to 1999.

Without up-to-date statistics, governments cannot understand the depth of the problem or measure the effectiveness of public health campaigns and are working in the dark when directing resources to prevention, screening and treatment.

The World Hepatitis Alliance, with support from the Public Health Panel, supranational organisations and “early adopter” governments, will work to develop the Hepatitis Atlas. The purpose of the Atlas will be to provide the first truly global compendium of statistics and information relating to chronic viral hepatitis B and C – showcasing country statistics and highlighting where no available data exist.

The Hepatitis Atlas will evolve over time, with this first edition serving as a template to show the kinds of data that are needed and demonstrate the extent to which they are lacking. As the campaign evolves, the Atlas will grow, which in itself will be a sign that change is happening and that governments are starting to take note. In the next few years, projections for 2012 will be included, tying in with the ‘12 Asks’ to governments by 2012.

In subsequent years the Hepatitis Atlas will provide increasingly sophisticated data, such as information about services available to patients, vaccination statistics and best practice case studies demonstrating initiatives that really work in improving the experience of patients the world over. The intention is that the Hepatitis Atlas will become the number one global information resource for patient groups, governments and the general public alike.

“One world, one goal – to control viral hepatitis!”

Prof Hui Zhuang
Member of the World Hepatitis Alliance Public Health Panel