“We learnt through presentations the global situation of hepatitis all over the world and the toolkits of a national planning. It was also an opportunity to share experiences between governments and civil society.”
“A great opportunity to hear from around the world problems that are common to all.”
“ This was an excellent opportunity to exchange information with people of different opportunities and this is exceptional because no other meeting provides this opportunity.”
World Hepatitis Summit 2015
The first WHS was held in Glasgow, Scotland in 2015. It was convened to build on the World Health Assembly 67.6 resolution, which asked WHO Member States to develop and implement national viral hepatitis strategies, as well as asking WHO to examine the feasibility of eliminating hepatitis B and C with a view to setting global targets and developing a monitoring mechanism. The summit helped to build momentum ahead of the 2016 World Health Assembly, where the elimination of viral hepatitis was adopted.
Theme:
‘To build on the World Health Assembly 67.6 resolution, which asked WHO Member States to develop and implement national viral hepatitis strategies, as well as asking WHO to examine the feasibility of eliminating hepatitis B and C with a view to setting global targets and developing a monitoring mechanism.’
Glasgow Declaration:
“The participants of the inaugural World Hepatitis Summit believe it is possible and essential to set as a goal the elimination of both hepatitis B and C as public health concerns. We therefore call upon governments in all jurisdictions to develop and implement comprehensive, funded national hepatitis plans and programmes in partnership with all stakeholders and in line with the World Health Assembly Resolution 67.6 and, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, to define and agree on realistic yet aspirational global targets for prevention, testing, diagnosis, care and treatment.”
Testimonials
“Very educative and inspiring sense of belonging to a global community of common zeal and enthusiasm with an amazing experience of shared-individual and collective strategies at combating the viral hepatitis scare and the prospects of networking.”
“Great to get ideas from other colleagues in different countries.”
“Excellent meeting. Hope its outcome materializes all over the world for the benefit of all patients.”
“A turning point in the global response to viral hepatitis.”
World Hepatitis Summit 2017
The second WHS was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2017 and again this was an important moment in the hepatitis response, coming a year after countries committed to elimination. The theme of WHS 2017 was “Implementing the Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis (GHSS): Towards the elimination of hepatitis as a public health threat” and the programme was focused on how to turn the strategy, which was adopted the year before, into concrete actions that could be implemented at a national level. The summit in 2017 had a broad reach, with over 750 delegates from 106 countries, including 82 programme managers, and more than 900 million social media impressions. Importantly, 90% of those in attendance found the conference of benefit to them or their organisation, indicating the value of such a summit.
Theme:
‘Implementing the Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis (GHSS): Towards the elimination of hepatitis as a public health threat’.
Declarations:
- São Paulo Government Declaration on Viral Hepatitis. In this declaration governments committed to taking a broad and coordinated approach to support implementation of the core interventions outlined in WHO’s Global Hepatitis Strategy with a special focus on viral hepatitis B and C. Read the declaration here.
- São Paulo Community Declaration on Viral Hepatitis. In response to the government Declaration, the World Hepatitis Alliance and its 256 member organisations demanded that governments give viral hepatitis the same priority as HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. Read the declaration here.
Testimonials
“Innovative and exciting ideas for me to discuss with other colleagues and to engage other stakeholders to form action plans.”
“An inspiring high-level summit that also served as an excellent networking event”.
“The attendance was excellent … with 41 member states sending official representatives and nine Ministers of Health being personally present.”
“An exciting avenue for learning, sharing, networking but above all meeting exciting minds interested in the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030. These were all committed minded people from across the globe.”
“The summit is a perfect platform for civil societies, governments, private sector, and public health professions to meet, exchange experiences and knowledge, and partner collectively to eliminate hepatitis by 2030.”
“An amazing international platform for knowledge sharing.”