Global Hepatitis Elimination Efforts Show Progress, but Structural Barriers and Inequities Persist
Original framing: “Efforts to eliminate hepatitis delivers gains but more action needed to meet 2030 targets” — WHO News
The history of hepatitis elimination efforts is marked by colonialism and imperialism, which perpetuated health inequities and undermined traditional knowledge and practices. A deeper understanding of this history is essential for addressing the structural barriers and inequities that persist today.
The WHO report highlights significant progress in reducing hepatitis infections and deaths, but the disease remains a major global health challenge due to structural barriers and inequities in access to healthcare.
A comprehensive approach that incorporates social determinants of health, human rights, and community-led initiatives is essential for eliminating hepatitis. This requires a fundamental shift in power dynamics and a commitment to decolonizing global health initiatives. The solution pathways of community-led hepatitis elimination initiatives, decolonizing global health initiatives, and addressing structural causes of hepatitis offer promising solutions for achieving this goal.