200 Patient groups and Euro MEPs give backing to the call for action

Liz Lynne MEP were among a group of Euro MPs who today backed calls for a major awareness and prevention campaign against the chronic liver disease Hepatitis. To mark World Hepatitis Day today, May 19th, Liz Lynne and MEPs from all parties have supported a call by 200 Patients' groups to back a World Health Organization (WHO) resolution on viral hepatitis. The resolution is being debated at the 63rd World Health Assembly in Geneva this week.

Euro MPs and campaigners from the World Hepatitis Alliance say public health services should give the disease a higher priority for detection, prevention and treatment. Hepatitis B and C affects up to one in 12 people and kills one million a year across the world.

Liz Lynne said: "Chronic viral hepatitis kills thousands of people in Britain each year and a million worldwide, and is a serious cause of ill health, but has all too often been ignored. Yet some fairly basic steps to follow best practice could make a huge difference. I do hope the WHO resolution calling for concerted action is supported, both by the new British government and other governments across the EU."

"The battle against HIV AIDS has been driven forward by concerted public pressure and by intelligent public health campaigns. By contrast many countries have ignored Hepatitis, though not all. Best practice shows that without spending a fortune, we can make a difference - we can raise awareness of the symptoms, improve diagnosis and ensure treatment is more effective. Simple tests can tell doctors if there is a potential problem, even if there are no major symptoms."

Charles Gore, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance, said: "Despite the huge disease burden and death toll, viral hepatitis has never been comprehensively addressed by the global community. The World Health Assembly is an important opportunity and on behalf of every single man, woman and child who has had their lives torn apart by these devastating diseases I urge governments of the world to fully support the WHO resolution."