"Recognizing the consequences of viral hepatitis and its effect on the global community, specifically the 400 million people worldwide living with this virus, and in support of World Hepatitis Day, WGO joins its partners in the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis globally as a public health threat by 2030!"

Professor David Bjorkman, President of World Gastroenterology Organisation

What is World Hepatitis Day?

World Hepatitis Day is an awareness campaign organized by the World Hepatitis Alliance. World Hepatitis Day is celebrated every 28 July to bring about the awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis, with the primary campaign goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.

“Acute viral hepatitis (AVH) is a systemic infection predominantly affecting the liver. It is most often caused by viruses that are hepatotropic (hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E).Other viral infections may also occasionally affect the liver, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex, coxsackievirus, and adenovirus. Whereas hepatitis A and E are self-limiting, infection with hepatitis C and to a lesser extent hepatitis B usually become chronic” - Read more from the WGO Acute Viral Hepatitis Guideline.

"It is time to make World Hepatitis Day, not an awareness moment, but a remembrance landmark. Let us tackle Viral Hepatitis and score for a future Hepatitis-Free World!"

Professor Guilherme Macedo, WGO Treasurer and Director of the WGO Porto Gastroenterology and Hepatology Training Center

Why is World Hepatitis Day Important?

“Viral hepatitis and its consequences (cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, death), have been ignored far too long. Hepatitis B and C alone affect over 1 in 12 of the world’s population and cause more chronic disease and death than HIV, TB or malaria. Both hepatitis B and C are preventable and hepatitis C can be cured. Several countries have made it national policy to completely eliminate hepatitis C, including Georgia, Mongolia, Egypt, Pakistan, Portugal and Australia. It is time to unite and decide to eliminate hepatitis C globally. At the same time we must dedicate ourselves to eliminating hepatitis B through true universal vaccination, including the birth dose, with a vaccine that has been available since 1982! Then, like smallpox before it and polio, now down to fewer than 100 new cases in only 2 countries worldwide, hepatitis B can become part of our ancient medical history.”

Professor Douglas R. LaBrecque, Chair of the WGO Hepatology Interest Group

What Is WGO’s Role in Joining the Effort to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis By 2030?

World Digestive Health Day 2018

The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) will raise awareness of Viral Hepatitis, B and C in 2018 through its annual public advocacy and awareness campaign, World Digestive Health Day (WDHD).

"On behalf of the WGO Foundation, we would like to express our continued support for World Hepatitis Day and declare action. WGO has in place various education and training programs focused on hepatology and resources that are used to help create awareness of viral hepatitis, which is supported through the work of the WGO and the WGO Foundation. It is our hope that you will join us in our efforts to encourage active participation in eliminating viral hepatitis and other important diet and the gut related digestive diseases through advocacy programs such as "World Digestive Health Day" worldwide."

Professor Cihan Yurdaydin, President-Elect and Chair of the WGO Foundation

WDHD is celebrated each year on May 29th with associated activities and initiatives continuing throughout and beyond the campaign year. WDHD will provide gastroenterologists, their patients and the public, with an understanding of the prevention, prevalence, diagnosis, management and/or treatment of Viral Hepatitis, B and C.

The campaign will be led by Brian McMahon, MD (U.S.A.) and Yun-Fan Liaw, MD (Taiwan).

WGO Training Centers

Since 2001, over 3,400 professionals have received training through the various educational programs offered at the WGO Training Centers. Located in developing countries throughout the world, each WGO Training Center provides trainees with the opportunity to enhance their skills and further their education in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, oncology, and GI surgery. Each Center offers comprehensive training, ranging from multi-day workshops on special topics to four-year sub-specialty internships that include theoretical courses and practical applications of techniques. The Training Centers promulgate locally relevant knowledge and develop appropriate skills among medical practitioners and health care workers from low-resource countries. Below are the WGO Training Centers with a primary focus on Hepatology related activities:

• WGO New Delhi Training Center - New Delhi, India
• WGO Porto Gastroenterology and Hepatology Training Center - Porto, Portugal
• WGO Porto Alegre Hepatology Training Center - Porto Alegre, Brazil

Supporting WGO Global Guidelines and Cascades

The WGO Guidelines and Cascades library contains over 20 practice guidelines written from a global standpoint and published for viewing and download on the WGO website. Cascade-based guidelines offer various treatment options for diagnosis and treatment depending on the resources available in different parts of the world. The six supporting WGO Global Guidelines and Cascades listed below are available in different languages and focus on hepatitis and related liver disease topic areas:

• Acute Viral Hepatitis
• Esophageal Varices
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C – Newly Updated!
• Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
• NAFLD & Nash

e-WGN Expert Point of View (EPOV) Articles Hepatology Collection

The e-WGN Expert Point of View (EPOV) articles listed below are a part of the Hepatology Collection and are available for viewing on the WGO Website. Click the article title(s) below to begin reading!

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease – A Growing Public Health Problem
Davor Stimac, MD, PhD
Ivana Mikolasevic, MD, PhD
Vol. 20, Issue #4 (January 2016)

Outcomes and Treatments of Dual Chronic Hepatitis B and C
Chun-Jen Liu, MD, PhD
Vol. 19, Issue #4 (January 2015)

HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV Co-infection in Sub-Saharan Africa: Transmission, Disease Outcomes, and Treatment Options
Mark W. Sonderup, MD
C. Wendy Spearman, MD
Vol. 19, Issue #4 (January 2015)

WGO Lectureship, Georges Brohée Medal and Lecture: New Views on NASH Pathogenesis – How Should They Inform Management?
Geoffrey C. Farrell, MD, FRACP
Vo0l. 18, Issue #3 (September 2013)

From Obesity to Fatty Liver/NASH: Two Parallel Epidemics
Sofia Carvalhana, MD
Helena Cortez-Pinto, MD, PhD
Vol. 18, Issue #2 (July 2013)

New Era of Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: Implications on Global Health
Joseph K. Lim, MD
Vol. 17, Issue #4 (December 2012)

Part II: Global Burden Of Liver Disease: A True Burden on Health Sciences and Economies!!
S. K. Sarin, MD, DM
Rakhi Maiwall, MD, DM
Vol. 17, Issue #3 (October 2012)

Global Burden Of Liver Disease: A True Burden on Health Sciences and Economies!!
S. K. Sarin, MD, DM
Rakhi Maiwall, MD, DM
Vol. 17, Issue #2 (July 2012)

Acute Hepatitis E
Wasim Jafri, MD, FRCP, FACG, FACP
Om Parkash, MBBS, FCPS, FCPS (GI), MSc, FACP
Vol. 17, Issue #1 (March 2012)

Educational Programs

In collaboration with WGO, the International Coalition of Hepatology Education Providers (IC-HEP) created an audiocast series focused on the management of Hepatitis C in Latin America.

This series includes expert presentations delivered by:

• “Estado actual del manejo de la Hepatitis C en Chile,” presented in Spanish by Javier Brahm, MD
• “Estado atual do manejo do HCV no Brasil,” presented in Portuguese by Hugo Cheinquer, MD, PhD
• “Estado actual de la Hepatitis C en la Argentina,” presented in Spanish by Marcelo O. Silva, MD

Through educational collaboration with WGO, IC-HEP also created webcasts on Hepatitis C and HCC:

• "Review of the WHO Guidelines for the Screening, Care, and Treatment of Persons with HCV," presented by Raj Reddy, MD
• “Hepatitis C,” presented by Aamir Ghafoor Khan, MSc(G), DGMRCP&S(G) FRCP(Lond), FRCP(G), FRCP(Ed), FRCPI(Ire), FEBG(Eu) FRSM(UK), FACP(USA), FACG(USA), AGAF(USA)
• “HCC: A Global Crisis Silent and Widely Ignored,” presented by Douglas R. LaBrecque, MD

How Can YOU Contribute To The Goal Of Eliminating Hepatitis By 2030?

#ShowYourFace World Hepatitis Day Campaign

The #ShowYourFace World Hepatitis Day photo campaign focuses on individual human faces to highlight the relevance of hepatitis to everyone.

Access the #ShowYourFace selfie tool here.

World Hepatitis Day 2017 on Social Media

Use the following hashtags when posting about hepatitis on social media!

• #WorldHepatitisDay
• #NoHep
• #ShowYourFace

For more information on participating through social media, download the World Hepatitis Alliance Social Media Toolkit here!

Also don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for information on where to find WGO resources in support of World Hepatitis Day!

World Hepatitis Day 2017 Campaign Toolkit

Download the World Hepatitis Day 2017 Campaign Toolkit, provided by the World Hepatitis Alliance, for more ideas on how you can participate in the World Hepatitis Day 2017 Campaign here!

Additional Resources for More Information

Click on the links below to learn more about World Hepatitis Day and join the global movement!

• World Hepatitis Day Website
• World Hepatitis Alliance
• NoHep Website
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) Viral Hepatitis Webpage
• World Health Organization Website

Other Notable Announcements

Liver-Related Presentations at the World Congress of Gastroenterology at ACG 2017

The liver-related presentations and optional learning luncheons listed below will be offered at the World Congress of Gastroenterology at ACG2017, October 14-15, in Orlando, Florida:

Postgraduate Course

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Symposium C: Updates in Liver Disease

• Autoimmune Liver Disorders
• Diagnosis and Multi-modality Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
• Management of Alcoholic Hepatitis

Saturday Optional Learning Luncheons

$75 per person per lunch. Separate registration required.

• Updates in the Management of Portal Hypertension
• HBV Reactivation with Immunosuppressive Therapy and Management During Pregnancy

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Symposium E: Viral Hepatitis

• The Global Burden of Hepatitis C
• Goals of Therapy in HBV
• Therapy for Hepatitis C

Saturday Optional Learning Luncheons

$75 per person per lunch. Separate registration required.

• NAFLD and NASH: Diagnostic Tools and Management
• Approach to Abnormal Liver Function Tests

WCOG Scientific Meeting

Monday, October 16, 2017

Symposia 2B: Advances in Hepatitis C Therapy: 2017 Update

• Global Eradication of HCV: Can It Be Achieved?
• Current Treatment of HCV
• Treatment of Special Populations With HCV

Simultaneous Plenary Sessions

Session 1A: Liver

• Integrated Efficacy and Safety of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir to Treat HCV Genotype 1-6 Infection in Patients Without Cirrhosis Including HIV Co-Infection
• Degree of Estimated Fibrosis in Asymptomatic Subjects With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Correlates With Higher Cardiovascular Risk
• Validity of Non-Invasive Fibrosis Scores to Detect Advanced Fibrosis in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes With Suspected Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Breakfast K: Hot Topics in Liver Disease

$60 per person per breakfast. Separate registration required.

• Current and Emerging Treatment Options for NASH: What You Can Do Now and What Is Coming in the Near Future
• Management of Alcoholic Hepatitis
• Clinical Presentation and Management of DILI

Simultaneous Symposia Sessions

Symposia 3D: The Global State of Hepatitis B: 2017

• Global Epidemiology of Hepatitis B: How Is it Acquired and How Can it Be Prevented?
• Hepatitis B: Who Should Be Treated and With What?
• Emerging and Future Therapies for Hepatitis B: Is a Cure on the Horizon?

Simultaneous Plenary Sessions

(Free Paper / Abstract Presentations)

• Session 3C: Best of WCOG – Liver Topics (Presented in Spanish)

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Simultaneous Plenary Sessions

• Session 4A: Liver

And More!

Liver is just one of the many topics to be covered at the World Congress of Gastroenterology at ACG 2017. Register today!

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) - The Liver Meeting® 2017

Visit WGO at booth #709 at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases - The Liver Meeting® 2017: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC, October 20 -24!

USE AND ABUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN THE MICROBIOTA ERA
Friday, 7th July 2017
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM (Houston Time, GMT-6:00)
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (GMT)

PROF. HARRY POTHOULAKIS, MD PHD
University of California (Los Angeles, CA, United States)

REGISTER TODAY!
http://edge.media-server.com/m/s/ezz7g8i2/lan/en

PROGRAM DIRECTORS:

PROF. HENRY COHEN
Professor of Gastroenterology, Director of ECHO Project Uruguay, Secretary General of National Academy of Medicine Montevideo, Former President of World Gastroenterology Organisation

PROF. EAMONN QUIGLEY
David M Underwood Chair of Medicine in Digestive Disorders, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College at Houston Methodist Hospital, Former President of World Gastroenterology Organisation

Connect with WGO:

www.worldgastroenterology.org
info@worldgastroenterology.org

World Congress of Gastroenterology at ACG 2017

World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO)
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)
13-18 October 2017
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, USA
http://worldcongressacg2017.org/

ASGE-WGO Endoscopy Course

The ASGE-WGO Postgraduate Course is designed to highlight the state-of-the-art endoscopic management of gastrointestinal diseases that attendees encounter daily, and present important recent innovations that are changing clinical practice.

Download the brochure that includes course highlights and the agenda for the ASGE-WGO Postgraduate Course here http://worldcongressacg2017.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ASGE_PGatACG-Course_0417.pdf.

Register for this course at: http://worldcongressacg2017.org/registration/

Advanced Registration Program

The Advanced Registration Program for the World Congress of Gastroenterology at ACG 2017 is now available. The Advanced Registration Program includes information on the program committee and groups, schedule of events, courses and much more. This educational program and related events will provide state-of-the-art education and science by a global faculty focusing on a world-view of GI and hepatology diseases and treatments and will afford attendees an opportunity to present their research in an international forum.

Download the Advanced Registration Program here: http://worldcongressacg2017.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ACG17AdvancedRegBrochure-ONLINE.pdf

Registration and Housing

Register and book your housing now for the World Congress of Gastroenterology at ACG 2017.

Register at: http://worldcongressacg2017.org/registration.

Book housing accommodations at: http://acg.registration.meetingsites.net.

Learn more about WCOG at ACG 2017: http://worldcongressacg2017.org.

Educational Opportunities

Microbiota Hard Talks

Second Webinar of ‘The Microbiota Hard Talks-Live from Texas Medical Center’ to be Broadcast Live in July

The second webinar of ‘The Microbiota Hard Talks – Live From Texas Medical Center’ webinar series, “Use and Abuse of Antibiotics in the Microbiota Era” will be presented by Professor Charalabos Pothoulakis, MD, PhD, of Los Angeles, California, USA. The second webinar will broadcast live on Friday, 7 July, 2017 at 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (Houston Time, GMT-6:00) / 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM (GMT). To register for the second webinar and/or the webinar series visit the program website, http://edge.media-server.com/m/s/ezz7g8i2/p/pg6bwph9/lan/en/?referrer=qvvkyiir.

The first webinar of the series, ‘Exploring the hidden world of Human Gut Microbiota’, is available for on-demand viewing on the program website, as well. To receive a Certificate of Participation after viewing the first and/or second webinar, please email info@worldgastroenterology.org.

To join the Microbiota Hard Talks conversation and interact with WGO on social media, tag WGO on Facebook (World Gastroenterology Organisation/WGO Foundation) and/or Twitter (@WorldGastroOrg). Be sure to include the hashtag #MHT2017 in your posts.

‘The Microbiota Hard Talks – Live From Texas Medical Center’ webinar series is supported by an unrestricted medical education grant from Biocodex France. The interactive program, directed by Professor Henry Cohen (Uruguay) and Professor Eamonn Quigley (USA), offers the chance to join experts and like-minded colleagues from around the globe on state-of-the-art microbiota topics. Each webinar features a presentation by a renowned lecturer and includes time dedicated to an interactive question and answer session. To learn more about the webinar series, visit http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/education-and-training/educational-programs/microbiota-hard-talks.

World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) 2017

Thank You for Supporting World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) 2017 – Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Navigating Evolving Therapies in an Evolving Disease

The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) and the WGO Foundation (WGOF) extend our thanks and appreciation to all partners and supporters who joined us on World Digestive Health Day (WDHD), 29th May, in advocating and raising awareness for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Although WDHD is celebrated annually on 29th May, associated initiatives and activities will continue throughout and beyond the campaign year. To access all of the highlights and happenings of WDHD 2017, including new tools and resources, continue to visit, http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/wgo-foundation/wdhd/wdhd-2017.

If you hosted an event in support of WDHD 2017, please share with us details, photos and/or videos from the event by contacting info@worldgastroenterology.org. All events held in support of WDHD 2017 may be found on our "Events and Success Stories" page, http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/wgo-foundation/wdhd/wdhd-2017/wdhd-2017-events-and-success-stories. If you are planning an upcoming WDHD 2017 event you may submit your event here, http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/forms/submit-event.php.

To join the WDHD 2017 conversation and interact with WGO on social media, snap, post and share original photos and/or videos of your WDHD events, initiatives, and activities. Tag WGO on Facebook (World Digestive Health Day - WDHD) and/or Twitter (@WGOF_WDHD), and include the hashtags #WDHD2017 and #YearofIBD in your posts. We are interested to see how you are TAKING ACTION for IBD!

WGO and WGOF greatly value your support of World Digestive Health Day 2017, and helping to ensure its success. Later this year, we look forward to the release of the WGO Handbook on IBD.

WGO Global Guidelines and Cascades

Updated Hepatitis C Guideline with Cascades

The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) has released the newly updated “Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Hepatitis C” Guideline with Cascades.

This updated Hepatitis C Guideline and Cascades, chaired by Professor Muhammad Umar, Principal/Dean, Rawalpindi Medical College, Chief Allied Hospitals, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, will be of interest to all health professionals in primary and secondary care involved in the management of people with hepatitis C infection in different countries of the world. It covers all stages of the disease management pathway: screening, testing, diagnosis, referral, treatment, care, and follow-up of children and adults with, or exposed to, hepatitis C (HCV) infection. “These guidelines will help the Physician treating Chronic Hepatitis C patients particularly in resource constrained countries as well as categorizing their patients for future therapies with DAA. During the last four years (2013-2017), an enormous amount of new evidence in the management of HCV has been published and we deemed it was time to update the guidelines,” noted Professor Umar. It can be accessed at http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/hepatitis-c.html.

To view all of WGO’s Guidelines and Cascades please visit http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/guidelines/global-guidelines. The Guidelines are available in English, French, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

WGO Societal Membership

WGO Member Society Information and Update Forms for 2017 were sent to all WGO Member Societies earlier this year. If you have not yet done so, please return your completed forms to us as soon as possible.

The 2017 General Assembly Meeting will be held during World Congress of Gastroenterology at ACG 2017 in Orlando, Florida, USA. Please be reminded that at the time of the General Assembly, only Member Societies which have fully paid their dues through 2017 may participate with full voting privileges. Membership dues invoices are created based on the information received in the Member Society Information and Update Forms; you will receive your 2017 invoice promptly upon receipt of the completed form.

In addition, by keeping our database as current as possible you can be certain important WGO news and information are received promptly by the appropriate contacts within your member society. For more information, please click here. The Update Form can be found here. Your cooperation and expedient response on this matter is very much appreciated.

Find these stories and much more at www.worldgastroenterology.org!

Enjoy this news alert? Share it with your colleagues!

Thank You for Supporting World Digestive Health Day 2017

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Navigating Evolving Therapies in an Evolving Disease

The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) and the WGO Foundation (WGOF) extend our thanks and appreciation to all partners and supporters who joined us on World Digestive Health Day (WDHD), 29th May, in advocating and raising awareness for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Although WDHD is celebrated annually on 29th May, associated initiatives and activities will continue throughout and beyond the campaign year. To access all of the highlights and happenings of WDHD 2017 continue to visit, http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/wgo-foundation/wdhd/wdhd-2017.

If you hosted an event in support of WDHD 2017, please share with us any highlights, photos and/or videos from the event by contacting info@worldgastroenterology.org. If you are planning an upcoming WDHD 2017 event, we invite you to submit your event here, http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/forms/submit-event.php. All events held in support of WDHD 2017 may be found on our "Events and Success Stories" page, http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/wgo-foundation/wdhd/wdhd-2017/wdhd-2017-events-and-success-stories.

To show your continued support for WDHD 2017 on social media, join the conversation and interact with WGO by snapping, posting and sharing original photos and videos of your WDHD celebrations. Tag WGO on Facebook (World Digestive Health Day - WDHD) and/or Twitter (@WGOF_WDHD), and include the hashtags #WDHD2017 and #YearofIBD in your posts. We are interested to see how you are TAKING ACTION for IBD!

WGO and WGOF greatly value your support of the World Digestive Health Day 2017 campaign, and helping to ensure its success. Later this year, we look forward to the release of the WGO Handbook on IBD!

PRESS RELEASE
For Release 26 May, 2017

Join WGO in Celebrating World Digestive Health Day 2017

About World Digestive Health Day 2017
Led by Chairman, Dr. Charles Bernstein (Canada), the goal of the WDHD 2017 campaign is to raise awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, a group of idiopathic chronic inflammatory intestinal conditions. WDHD aims to provide a broad overview of this increasingly common disease by providing gastroenterologists, their patients and the lay public, with an understanding of the latest basic and clinical research in the pathogenesis, investigation, and treatment of IBD. 'Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Navigating Evolving Therapies in an Evolving Disease' is the WDHD campaign theme for 2017 and seeks to translate research into clinical practice and facilitate communication between physicians, pharmacists, allied health professionals, healthcare payers, and the public. According to Dr. Charles Bernstein, “We want to ensure that patients receive appropriate dietary and lifestyle advice as well as appropriate investigations and treatment, relevant to their condition and circumstances. Furthermore, we want to ensure awareness of the disease and its management is raised in countries where IBD is being increasingly and newly diagnosed.”

The task of WGO is supported by a Steering Committee with a global perspective. The Steering Committee provides expertise on IBD, guiding the course of the campaign and the development of the educational and training materials, in collaboration with WGO Member Societies, WGO Regional Affiliates, WGO Training Centers, and other WGO global partners, which define this initiative and provide the resources to sustain the effort throughout the year. To meet the WDHD 2017 Steering Committee, visit http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/wgo-foundation/wdhd/wdhd-2017/meet-the-steering-committee.

Web pages devoted to the WDHD campaign are created each year, which consist of tools and resources, the WGO Global Guideline and Cascade on IBD, information about this year's campaign partners, information for physicians and patients, an area to submit a WDHD event and a section featuring what countries, societies, training centers, and other partners are doing to celebrate WDHD. To access all of the highlights and happenings of WDHD 2017, visit http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/wgo-foundation/wdhd/wdhd-2017.

WGO President-Elect and Chair of the WGO Foundation, Dr. Cihan Yurdaydin (Turkey) shares his thoughts on WDHD, “Throughout 2017, events will take place around the globe by WGO Member Societies, WGO Training Centers, WGO Regional Affiliates and undertaken by our partners and supporters in celebration of WDHD 2017. Past events organized have included lectures, press conferences, symposia, walkathons, patient awareness camps, creating a World Digestive Health Week, and much more. WGO extends our many thanks to all supporters of WDHD, today and throughout the year, for helping us advocate and raise awareness of IBD!"

Join the WDHD Conversation
On 29 May, WGO will celebrate WDHD with a 24-hour social media blitz, beginning at 00:00 GMT/UTC. Every hour of the day, WGO will post content to engage with followers around the world. To join the conversation in support of WDHD 2017, snap, post and share original photos and videos of World Digestive Health Day 2017 celebrations and/or wear blue in support of the campaign. Tag WGO on Facebook (World Digestive Health Day - WDHD) and/or Twitter (@WGOF_WDHD), and be sure to include #WDHD2017 and #YearofIBD in the post. To learn more about how to interact with WGO on social media, visit http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/about-wgo/media-center/social-media.

About the World Gastroenterology Organisation
Formed in 1935 and incorporated in 1958, The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) is a federation of over 100 member societies and 4 regional associations of gastroenterology, hepatology, and other related disciplines representing more than 50,000 individual members worldwide, focusing on the improvement of standards in gastroenterology training and education on a global scale. The WGO Foundation, incorporated in 2007, is dedicated to raising funds to support WGO educational programs and activities.
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For more information, press only:
Ranelle Graber, Program Manager, WGO and WGO Foundation, +1 (414) 918-9798, rgraber@worldgastroenterology.org.

For more information on WGO and its Foundation:
www.worldgastroenterology.org
www.wgofoundation.org
http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/wgo-foundation/wdhd