🌍 World Hepatitis Day: A Global Call to Translate Awareness into Action

Every year on July 28, the world unites to observe World Hepatitis Day, an initiative led by the World Health Organization to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and the global burden it represents. For those of us working in pharmaceutical translation, this day is a powerful reminder of the critical role language plays in advancing public health.

Why World Hepatitis Day Matters

Viral hepatitis—particularly hepatitis B and C—affects over 354 million people globally, often silently. These infections can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, claiming more than a million lives annually. Yet many are unaware of their infection status. The theme for 2025, “Let’s Break It Down”, reinforces the urgent action to dismantle the financial, social and systemic barriers – including stigma – that stand in the way of hepatitis elimination and liver cancer prevention.

Language as a Tool for Health Equity

In the fight against hepatitis, access to accurate medical information in one’s native language is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Clear, culturally adapted translations of:

• Patient information leaflets (PILs)

• Informed consent forms

• Clinical trial documentation

• Educational materials and public health campaigns

can mean the difference between treatment and ignorance, or between prevention and risk. Language barriers can delay diagnosis and contribute to the spread of misinformation—especially in marginalized or rural communities.

Our Role as Pharmaceutical Translators

We understand that behind every translation is a person waiting for answers. That’s why our team works closely with subject matter experts and native linguists to ensure that medical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and cultural sensitivity go hand in hand. Whether we’re translating a clinical trial protocol for a hepatitis vaccine or localizing an awareness campaign for a Ministry of Health, we approach every project with the same goal: bridging the gap between science and society.

Taking Action—Today and Every Day

This World Hepatitis Day, we encourage our clients, colleagues, and community to:

✅ Promote hepatitis testing and vaccination
✅ Support multilingual health communication initiatives
✅ Advocate for health literacy in vulnerable populations
✅ Celebrate the role of translators and medical communicators in global health

The campaign is a reminder that we must act now to expand access, integrate care, and end hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030.

🔗 To learn more about World Hepatitis Day, visit https://www.worldhepatitisday.org