WHO APPROVES RI'S PROPOSAL TO DECLARE JULY 28 HEPATITIS DAY

London, Jan 24 (ANTARA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved Indonesia's proposal to declare July 28 as World Hepatitis Day.

The world body gave the approval at the 126th session of its executive board in Geneva on Saturday with the aim of creating a momentum to fight hepatitis in every country, first secretary of the Indonesian permanent representative office in Geneva Acep Somantri said in a statement on Sunday.

The session also approved by consensus draft resolutions proposed by Indonesia and Brazil on viral hepatitis after two days of debates, the statement said.

The WHO Executive Council considered the resolutions important to enhance global cooperation in preventing and handling hepatitis, it said.

In a statement to the WHO Executive Council, Indonesian Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih underscored the importance of the resolutions to assist developing nations in preventing and handling hepatitis.

The resolutions will encourage developing countries to stress the need for cooperation and technical aid to conduct surveillance, and have access to hepatitis B vaccines at affordable prices as well as universal access to medical treatment.

Given the resolutions the WHO was expected to increase its role in encouraging all countries to prevent and handle hepatitis, the minister said.

Dr. David H. Muljono, a member of the Indonesian delegation to the meeting, said an estimated 500 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis B and C, and more than 600 thousand people died of hepatitis B and C every year.

U.ZG