In this month of July, public buildings are now illuminated with yellow lights, lectures, educational activities, events and campaigns for awareness and prevention of viral hepatitis.
The law that changes the rule for 2019 and establishes a new calendar of activities to celebrate the month of Yellow July has been approved by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, which is Posted in The official diary of the union From Tuesday (4).
Because they are silent diseases, affecting the liver in an infectious process, viral hepatitis often progresses to more serious diseases, such as liver cancer or cirrhosis, without the patient being diagnosed. In Brazil, the most common types of hepatitis are those caused by viruses A, B and C. There are also viruses D and E, less common.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the Americas, there are approximately 5.4 million people living with hepatitis B infection, while 4.8 million people with hepatitis C are receiving treatment.
The aim of the new law is to involve the public administration, civil society institutions and international organizations present in Brazil in activities that focus on awareness, prevention, assistance, protection and promotion of human rights. The law also specifies that these activities must be developed in accordance with the principles of the Unified Health System (SUS).
With the entry into force of the new law, the procedures will be annual, with the aim of increasing the number of people diagnosed, in addition to treatment and recovery, because hepatitis C type has a cure.
Also on July 28, World Day Against Viral Hepatitis states that the World Health Organization’s goal is to eliminate viral infections by hepatitis B and C by 2030.
