EVOLUTION OF THE VIRAL-HEPATITIS PREVENTION BOARD

The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB), an independent, international group of experts, was formed in 1992 to raise awareness about the risks of viral hepatitis and the need to prevent the disease. The VHPB's first initiative was an Action on Hepatitis B as an Occupational Hazard, under the auspices of the Society of Occupational Medicine. The objectives of this action were to increase the protection of workers at risk from infection with hepatitis B. In 1993, the VHPB widened its scope and established an Action on Hepatitis B as a Community Health Risk, under the auspices of the European Public Health Association. This action aims to inform and educate the public and policy makers about the dangers of hepatitis B, its modes of transmission and how it can be prevented in the community.