MARCH 2019: Vol.34 Voice hepYour monthly magazine from the World Hepatitis Alliance WHA announces new CEO and President-Elect WHA welcomes seven new members hepinion: Why are we not making progress on stigma and discrimination? wall of stories “I want to show those fighting viral hepatitis that they are not alone.” note from our president contents Stay connected The World Hepatitis Alliance has exciting news as we www.worldhepatitisalliance.org announce a new CEO, Cary James, and a new President- Regulars Elect, Dr. Su Wang. These are two important additions [email protected] hep Headlines to the WHA leadership team and will help us drive the 4 Alliance into the next phase of its development. www.facebook.com/worldhepalliance 5 Dates for the Diary Earlier this month I spent some time with Cary and Su @Hep_Alliance in London at the WHA Board meeting, where we met Features with regional board members to discuss progress each @worldhepatitisalliance region is making to eliminate hepatitis. Globally there 6 WHA announces new CEO and President- is a mixed picture; and while it is concerning to see Elect that some regions are falling behind in their hepatitis response, it is always inspiring to hear about the tireless 8 Civil Society’s important role in addressing financial Want to contribute? work WHA members are doing to accelerate hepatitis barriers to elimination We welcome your contributions so please get in touch at elimination. [email protected] 9 A Google Doodle for World Hepatitis Day to have your news and stories This month we also strengthened the Alliance by included in future issues and feel adding seven new members. WHA now represents 273 10 Meet WHA’s newest members free to share this magazine with members in 90 countries. The power of our collective your network voices has never been greater as we work to ensure 12 hepinion: Why are we not making progress on that the elimination of viral hepatitis becomes a reality. stigma and discrimination? Finally, as always, this month we’ve got some great 14 Raising awareness: the key to finding the missing features in hepVoice. We hope you enjoy it! millions Don’t miss out - receive 16 Wall of Stories: Mariam hepVoice straight to The World Hepatitis Day 2018 Global Michael Ninburg your inbox! Summary report is out now. The report features details of the activities undertaken across the world which can be used as a source of inspiration when planning your WHD2019 activities. See the report at www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/whd-2018-global-summary 2 hep Voice MARCH 2019 hep Voice MARCH 2019 3 Hep Headlines New Hepatitis C cases down of acute hepatitis C at St Mary’s be reversed if we can’t re-treat by almost 70% in HIV-positive Hospital in London, subsequently patients and we hope that soon men in London presenting their findings at The this might be possible through NHS Conference on Retroviruses and services.” Opportunistic Infections in Seattle Researchers behind a new study on 6 March. The researchers also suggested headlines from Imperial College London have that if this progress can be suggested that regular screening Professor Graham Cooke, NIHR maintained and replicated, London and improved access to new Professor of Infectious Diseases at will be on track to achieve the hep treatments have contributed to broad translational research eliminate viral hepatitis in Mumbai Imperial College London and co- targets set out by the British HIV Hepatitis is regularly greatly reducing new cases of programme on the prevention, on 24 February. author of the paper, stated: Association to eliminate Hepatitis C hepatitis C amongst HIV positive making the news diagnosis, and treatment of in HIV patients by 2021. men in London. thanks to the efforts hepatitis C and other blood-borne The minister launched the “The results from our study should viruses, and is also one of the National Action Plan, which give us great encouragement as we Read more here. The researchers analysed data of WHA members. newest members of the Hep-CORE provides a strategy and framework try to eliminate Hepatitis C. There of 6,000 HIV-positive men at risk Here are a few Advisory Group. to bolster elimination efforts, is a risk that these gains might in the presence of Amitabh highlights. Commenting on her work, Prof. Bachchan, a Bollywood superstar Hutchinson said: and hepatitis B patient. Civil Society Collaboration Dates for the diary with Policymakers Advances “My research provided the The national programme has the Viral Hepatitis Response: key evidence to guide a public its origins in a consultation Upcoming events and activities taking place in the coming months. health response to hepatitis C in that began on World Hepatitis An Interview with Professor Scotland, which culminated in the Day 2018 and is now part of a 7 April Sharon Hutchinson Scottish Government investing sustained commitment towards significantly in their Action Plan. achieving SDG 3.3. World Health Day In the latest instalment of The evidence-based National his ongoing interview series, Plan – cited as an example of best Speaking at the launch, Bachchan Universal health coverage is the key theme for this year’s World Health Day on 7 April. Universal Professor Jeffrey Lazarus sat down practice by the United Nations commented on the adverse effects health coverage is integral to achieving the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030; this year, the with Professor Sharon Hutchinson Drug Policy Unit and the Global that hepatitis has particularly main purpose of World Health Day is to help people better understand what universal health to discuss her work, the role Commission on Drugs – was the on women, and the barriers to coverage means and how people who have adequate healthcare can better advocate for equal for hepatitis patient groups in stimulus for the World Health accessing healthcare they face: access to healthcare for all. The World Health Organization has created a range of communications research and advocacy, and her Organization and the World materials to use and you can get involved on social media by using #HealthForAll. vision of the future of hepatitis Hepatitis Alliance to stage the “Discrimination against women treatment. inaugural World Hepatitis Summit has been most disturbing for (involving governments and civil me. This shouldn’t happen. Prof. Hutchinson is a Professor 10-14 April society representatives from over Women are half the power of the International Liver Conference (EASL 2019) of Epidemiology and Population 80 countries) in Glasgow in 2015.” country, they are the strength of Health at Glasgow Caledonian the country. They must be given University. She holds an honorary Read more here. the respect and dignity that all The International Liver Congress™ (ILC) brings together leading doctors and specialists from across appointment at Health Protection deserve… to be discriminated the world. It serves as the leading platform to exhibit best practice and science, introduce the latest Scotland and has over 20 years’ [against] … just because they are trends in hepatology, present scientific advances, offer education, and nurture networking at an experience in conducting India begins National Viral Hepatitis Control Program carrying hepatitis B virus is not international level. Staff and representatives from WHA and NOhep will be attending, so please do epidemiological research. She is acceptable. I will fight for this as #ILC2019 (NVHCP) come along to say hello. You can join in the conversation on social media using . using this research to inform the long as I am alive.” design and impact of public health New Delhi’s Minister of State for interventions. Read more here Health, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Prof. Hutchinson also leads a launched a national programme to Participating in a hepatitis-related activity or have an 4 hep Voice MARCH 2019 event planned? Email us or contact us on social media. hep Voice MARCH 2019 5 WHA announces new CEO and President-elect Cary James has been selected as and successful campaigns and collaborated with numerous civil society organisations WHA’s new CEO and will begin in during his time as a member of the leadership April. Dr. Su Wang, who previously team at the UK’s Terrence Higgins Trust. He served as Executive Board has been a member of international advisory panels and expert groups on diagnostics, digital Member for the PAHO region, has communications, health equality, HIV, hepatitis, been appointed President-Elect. tuberculosis and sexual health. Cary brings decades of experience in public “Cary has a proven record of working closely health programmes and health policy at with governmental and non-governmental the national and international levels. He is organisations to tailor programmes to unique a recognised leader in putting patients and populations as well as high-level engagement communities at the centre of policy and with the WHO and UN, which are important programmes. skills in the work of the Alliance,” said Michael Ninburg, president of WHA. “I am excited for this opportunity to use my skills and experience to champion our “I am delighted to be passing on the torch to members and people affected by viral hepatitis Cary who will be a great fit to the organisation to make viral hepatitis elimination a reality,” and an exciting appointment to drive the Cary said. Alliance forward,” added Raquel Peck, senior advisor and former CEO of World Hepatitis Cary has worked extensively in hepatitis and Alliance. WHA President, Michael Ninburg, with