Since 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) has marked 28 July as World Hepatitis Day to promote and raise public awareness on hepatitis. This year the Department of Health adopts “Stop mother-to-child transmission to realise a hepatitis B-free generation” as the theme, focusing on promotion of various measures for preventing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV).
MTCT is the major route of transmission of HBV, which accounts for the prevalence of hepatitis B in Hong Kong. Hence, preventing MTCT of HBV is one of the focuses in the Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2020 – 2024. In addition to continuing universal screening of pregnant women for hepatitis B, administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin for babies born to infected mothers and universal neonatal vaccination, the Government has also undertaken an initiative of providing antiviral treatment for pregnant women with high HBV viral load since last year, to further reduce the risk of MTCT.
For the newly developed video and more health educational materials, please click the links below:
The Viral Hepatitis Control Office (VHCO), the Department of Health collaborated with Family Health Service to organise an online public health talk on 21 July 2021. It covered the prevention of MTCT of HBV and information on hepatitis B. Please click here for the powerpoint (only Chinese version available).
Starting from late June 2021, VHCO has launched an iCE activity with one-year validity period for health professionals, which addresses various preventive measures for MTCT of HBV. For more information, please click here.