Beyond Awareness: Why Students Are Essential to Eliminating Viral Hepatitis

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. EKEMINI WISDOM ITEK, a preclinical medical student in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon. He is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

What if one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases wasn’t limited by science, but by awareness? Despite remarkable advances in vaccination, diagnostics, and treatment, viral hepatitis continues to affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide and claims more than one million lives each year. The tragedy is not merely that hepatitis persists, it is that many infections remain undiagnosed, preventable, or untreated until irreversible liver disease develops. As the world works toward the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, one question becomes increasingly urgent: Who will bridge the gap between medical knowledge and community action? The answer may lie with students.

The challenge extends far beyond the virus itself. The WHO Global Hepatitis Report 2024 estimates that 304 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C in 2022. Yet progress is hindered by a striking gap in diagnosis and treatment: only 13% of people living with hepatitis B had been diagnosed and just 3% had received antiviral therapy, while hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment coverage also remain far below global targets. These disparities reflect limited awareness, insufficient screening, inequitable access to healthcare, and missed opportunities for prevention. Eliminating hepatitis therefore requires more than medical breakthroughs, it demands communities that are informed, empowered, and engaged.

If awareness is one of the greatest barriers, education becomes one of the most powerful interventions, and students are uniquely positioned to lead it. As trusted members of schools, universities, and local communities, students can translate scientific evidence into accessible health information, dispel misconceptions surrounding hepatitis transmission, and encourage vaccination and early screening. Their proximity to communities enables health messages to reach people long before they encounter the formal healthcare system.

Beyond education, students are emerging as influential advocates for public health. Through peer-led campaigns, digital health initiatives, community outreach, and partnerships with healthcare institutions, they expand access to reliable information while helping reduce the stigma that often discourages testing and treatment. By combining scientific literacy with empathy, students can foster environments where individuals feel confident to know their status and seek timely care.

However, meaningful student engagement should not depend solely on individual initiative. Governments, universities, and healthcare institutions must invest in student-led health promotion through structured training, mentorship, and integration into national hepatitis programmes. Empowering students is not simply an educational opportunity, it is a strategic investment in stronger health systems and healthier communities.

Eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030 will depend not only on better vaccines, stronger diagnostics, or more effective medicines. It will depend on whether knowledge is transformed into action. Students stand at the intersection of science and society, uniquely positioned to educate, advocate, and inspire change. If we empower them today, we move one step closer to a future where hepatitis is remembered not as a persistent global threat, but as a preventable disease that humanity chose to overcome.

References

1. World Health Organization. Global Hepatitis Report 2024. Geneva: WHO; 2024.
2. World Health Organization. Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections 2022–2030. Geneva: WHO.
3. World Health Organization. World Hepatitis Day campaign resources.
4. World Health Organization. Hepatitis B Fact Sheet. Geneva: WHO.
5. World Health Organization. Hepatitis C Fact Sheet. Geneva: WHO.
6. Polaris Observatory Collaborators. Global change in hepatitis B and C epidemiology and cascade of care. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

About the author

EKEMINI WISDOM ITEK is a preclinical medical student in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon, and an early-career researcher with interests in medical research, mental health, health systems strengthening, and leadership. He has contributed to global health through scientific publication, international abstract presentations, and continental panel discussions. Passionate about evidence-driven solutions, he is committed to advancing healthcare in Africa through research, collaboration, and service.