The World Health Organization (WHO) will be celebrating for the first time the World Hepatitis Day on July 28, 2015 in Egypt under the slogan "Prevent hepatitis B and C," the African Press Organization (APO) reported.
About 1.45 million people die annually from all types of viral hepatitis and thousands are newly infected daily, the APO mentioend.
According to WHO, 400 million people are living with hepatitis B and C worldwide.
Egypt was chosen to host World Hepatitis Day 2015 as the country has taken serious steps to confront the disease through developing an action plan for the prevention and treatment of the disease, according to APO.
"The Egyptian Health Ministry has set up 32 specialized centres and introduced a new hepatitis C drug last year, which is the first highly-effective and approved direct-acting antiviral drug for nationwide treatment of hepatitis C infection."
About 128,000 people have started the new treatment, it added.
The annual campaign, marked on July 28, aims to raise awareness among the general public and infected patients, and to promote improved access to hepatitis services, WHO said on its official website.
