Principle 2 – Vocal Ambassador
Why?
What?
Each year 1.3 million people die as a result of viral hepatitis related complications, however, these could be prevented if the tools to eliminate the disease were made available to all those who need them.
Achieving WHO’s 2030 targets require the cumulative efforts of individuals and groups. Every opportunity must be taken to ensure this message reaches a wider audience. Local actions should be realistic and achievable based on available resources. Everyone should be encouraged to share ideas and promote actions, seeking ways to involve all members of the community. Identifying a priority based on local needs (e.g., improving needle exchange services, improving access to birth dose vaccination) and focusing efforts in this one area is a good way to generate strong initial results and build momentum towards tackling more areas. Championing local successes is important to drive motivation.
How?
A few quick steps to get started:
- Include moving and impactful stories when presenting on or discussing the impact of viral hepatitis.
- Utilise data from your own clinical practice to demonstrate positive impact of testing and treatment in a meaningful and motivational way.
- Post flyers in your local practice and area of work to inform others of the burden of viral hepatitis, emphasising stories of those who have been impacted by the virus. Highlight that you a NOhep Medical Visionary and provide your contact details.
- Encourage your network to sign up at NOhep.org
- Work with hospitals, medical schools, health care organisations to highlight World Hepatitis Day and share awareness messages, align with any efforts of your institution related to cancer prevention or immunizations or infectious disease screening
Other Resources To Help
- Use the WHA’s community briefing on the WHO Global Hepatitis Report 2024 to remind you of key messages and data to enable effective conversations with peers and colleagues around the burden of viral hepatitis.
- Use the Hepatitis B Foundation’s ‘Hep B Birth Dose Media Toolkit’ to help spread awareness and educate your community about the importance of hepatitis B prevention.
- Visit NOhep Stories, a collection of stories from around the world, to find moving and impactful patient testimonials to use as part of your presentation.
- Read how young HIV activists are leading the call for inclusive and youth-centered healthcare. This powerful model should inspire a similar approach in the hepatitis response. Available here.
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