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Good morning everyone,

As you may be aware from our previous correspondence - the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board has agreed to recommend a resolution on viral hepatitis to the World Health Assembly in May. 

A copy of the draft resolution (which is yet to be finalised) is attached for your information. Also attached please find the press release that the World Hepatitis Alliance Media Bureau distributed in January, regarding the WHO resolution.  

The World Hepatitis Alliance has been working intensively to secure support for this resolution and we are delighted that the Executive Board reached a consensus and that it will now be debated by all 193 Member States of the WHO.  If adopted, the resolution would for the first time provide a robust framework for international action to prevent, diagnose and treat hepatitis B and C.

World Hepatitis Day:  Please note - The resolution that has been agreed by the WHO Executive Board recommends that member states mark World Hepatitis Day on 28 July, in recognition of the birthday of Prof Baruch Blumberg, who first discovered the hepatitis B virus.  However, as with the rest of the resolution, this requires agreement by the World Health Assembly, which does not take place until the week of 17 May. World Hepatitis Day will therefore be going ahead, as planned, on 19 May in 2010. We will then be working with the WHO on the preparations for future Days, as well as other aspects of the resolution.   

We hope you agree that this resolution is an important milestone for the hepatitis community, and we look forward to your support ahead of the World Health Assembly in May.

Helen Tyrrell
World Hepatitis Alliance
Board Member for Australasia