World Hepatitis Day Initiatives

The World Hepatitis Alliance supports campaigners and patient organisations around the world to help make a difference to the lives of the millions of people living with viral hepatitis and to prevent new infections. To find out more on what is going on in your country, use the map below to find local organisations, World Hepatitis Day initiatives and other initiatives.

You can also look at our ‘Wall of Stories’ and submit your own personal experience of living with hepatitis or find other community resources including an Online Scrapbook and our latest Newsletters. The This is hepatitis... blog features bloggers from around the world talking about their experiences with hepatitis.

Name:
Org:
Country: United States
City: Washington
Type: WHD

Courageous Fayetteville boy gets a White House invitation

Back in December, 5-year-old Elijah Richard unwrapped a globe inscribed with these words: "Elijah Richards. Hep C Hero. Christmas 2010.''

The globe was a gift from friends Elijah had made from around the world through the Internet.

"They call hepatitis C a dragon,'' his mother, Lana Richards, said at the time. "But Elijah's gonna beat it because he's a dragon slayer.''

Elijah's dragon slaying capabilities have earned him an invitation to the White House. The family leaves Wednesday for a trip to Washington, where they will serve as advocates for World Hepatitis Day on Thursday.

Elijah underwent extensive treatment for the disease. The treatment often left him feeling sick and weak, and it was exhausting for his mother, his chief caregiver.

But the treatment seems to have been well worth it.

"He finished 69 weeks of treatment and is doing very well,'' Lana Richards said. A good checkup in August would mean Elijah has a 98 percent chance of being free of hepatitis.

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