Young people living with hepatitis

Young people are one of the groups most affected by hepatitis, yet they often don’t even know that they’re living with it! This is largely due to a lack of accessible and comprehensive information for young people.
Young people living with hepatitis are also more likely to be diagnosed with HIV and vice versa because they share modes of transmission. While there is little data available about young people living with both hepatitis and HIV, 7.4 percent of people living with HIV are coinfected with hepatitis B (i) and 2.3 million people are estimated to live with both HIV and hepatitis C.(ii)
There is a significant gap in the work being done around hepatitis and HIV, particularly around how co-infections impact the lives of young people who are most at risk. To bridge the gap for young people, WHA has teamed up with the Global Network of Young People Living with HIV (Y+ Global) to create a digital toolkit.
The toolkit offers clear, easy-to-understand information about hepatitis and HIV for young people. Our goal is to raise awareness, debunk myths, and empower young people to make informed decisions about their health. Whether you’re looking to understand the symptoms, learn about prevention, or find out how to get tested, this toolkit is here to provide support every step of the way.
Webinar: From Experience to Action: Youth Voices on Hepatitis and HIV
On Tuesday 21 May 2024, WHA and Y+ Global held a joint webinar to foster meaningful conversations and gather insights from young people living with hepatitis and/or HIV. The event explored gaps, challenges and solutions, and shared stories from young people leading change in their communities.
Co-chaired by Tung Doan (Y+ Global) and Adesuwa Oni (Rise Against Hepatitis Global Initiative and WHA member), speakers included:
- Zipporah Achieng (Kenya)
- Priscilla Ama Addo (Ghana)
- Edgar Mudoogo, Young Medical Doctor, Mbarara University (Uganda)
Share your experiences
Young people play a key role in the hepatitis and HIV responses and can drive change in their local communities. If you would like to share your story or examples of youth-led initiatives on hepatitis, HIV and co-infections, contact Eddy Rudram at Y+ Global at edrudram@yplusglobal.org and the World Hepatitis Alliance at contact@worldhepatitisalliance.org.
Watch David’s story about being diagnosed with hepatitis at 13 years old
To find out more about young people living with hepatitis, please visit our resources:
References
i World Health Organization. Hepatitis B [Internet]. 2024 [Accessed June 2024]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b
ii World Hepatitis Organization. Hepatitis C [Internet]. 2024 [Accessed June 2024]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c