The Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP), is the leading professional society of the Philippines which are active and concerned with liver health and liver-related disease, recently they launch a campaign, Be Aware (B-Aware), to raise national awareness on Hepatitis B (Hepa-B) and to promote better understanding about Hepa-B which according to study, affects one in every seven Filipinos.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can cause serious diseases. Maricel de Quiroz-Castro from the World Health Organization Office in the Philippines shares that in the Philippines, it is estimated that Hepatitis B affects about 16.7% of adult Filipinos. Filipinos living with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) can develop chronic liver disease leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. In the Philippines, Hepatitis B accounts for more than two thirds of all cases of liver cancer – the second leading cancer killer in the country.
Many Filipinos still have the mistaken belief that they Hepa-B can be taken by eating improperly cooked food or sharing utensils. Hepa-B is transmitted through the passing of the virus from mother to child and blood transfusion.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can cause serious diseases. Maricel de Quiroz-Castro from the World Health Organization Office in the Philippines shares that in the Philippines, it is estimated that Hepatitis B affects about 16.7% of adult Filipinos. Filipinos living with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) can develop chronic liver disease leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. In the Philippines, Hepatitis B accounts for more than two thirds of all cases of liver cancer – the second leading cancer killer in the country.
Many Filipinos still have the mistaken belief that they Hepa-B can be taken by eating improperly cooked food or sharing utensils. Hepa-B is transmitted through the passing of the virus from mother to child and blood transfusion.
A lot of Filipinos not even aware that they are carriers of the disease. Quite a number of Filipinos only learn that they are infected when they have been diagnosed with liver disease or liver cancer. The campaign aims to Be Aware, by Be-ing Tested, then Be Vaccinated to be able to Be Treated.
“One of the key steps towards leading the country—and region—to lessen the cases of Filipinos with the disease is spreading awareness,” says Dr. Nick Walsh of the World Health Organization, Office of the Western Pacific Region.
“We need to properly make Filipinos aware of the disease if we wish to lower the cases of Hepatitis B in the country,” says Dr. Eternity Labio, President of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines. “As we launch the B-Aware Campaign, we aim to inform and holistically educate Filipinos about the disease so they can gain sufficient knowledge regarding this very common infection, and take action.”
“Having Filipinos aware of the symptoms, the vaccines and treatments available for Hepatitis B only gets the job half-done,” says Dr. Labio. “Beyond the spread of information, more importantly, we want Filipinos to become advocates of our cause.”
Besides changing the negative perception of Filipinos towards people living with Hepa-B Virus, the Hepatology Society of the Philippines aims to make Filipinos spread awareness to their friends and families.
The launch of the campaign of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines saw support from World Health Organization Office of the Western Pacific Region, World Health Organization Office in the Philippines, the Department of Health, and the Yellow Warriors Society of the Philippines. The Hepatology Society of the Philippines invites Filipinos to join them to B-Aware, to lead to a Hepatitis B free Philippines.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/BeAwarePH.