Sri Lankan doctor named a 2026 Hepatitis Elimination Champion

Sri Lankan medical specialist Sathya Herath has been named among the 2026 Hepatitis Elimination Champions by the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE).

The announcement was made ahead of World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28. CGHE selected four people from around the world for their contributions to public awareness, policy development, service delivery and technical innovation aimed at eliminating hepatitis.

Herath serves as a consultant at Sri Lanka’s National STD/AIDS Control Programme and works as the national programme specialist for key population services.

CGHE said it recognised her work in expanding community-based healthcare for vulnerable groups, improving the early detection of hepatitis C, increasing treatment uptake and raising cure rates.

Since 2018, Herath has led the development of Sri Lanka’s “One Stop Shop” model, which provides health education, harm-reduction services, point-of-care testing, hepatitis treatment and psychosocial support at a single location.

She also contributed to the introduction of Sri Lanka’s first needle and syringe programme in 2021 and a community-based hepatitis C treatment service in 2022.

These initiatives have expanded access to life-saving services and improved the diagnosis, treatment and recovery rates of hepatitis C patients among vulnerable communities, CGHE said.

Herath has also contributed to the development of National Vocational Qualification courses in community engagement relating to HIV, sexually transmitted infections and viral hepatitis.

Through the Parentcraft programme run by the Ma Piya Sumithuro organisation, she has helped raise awareness among pregnant women and their partners about HIV, sexually transmitted infections and viral hepatitis.

CGHE said Herath’s leadership had helped extend prevention, testing, treatment and health education services to communities that were often overlooked.

The recognition is expected to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to achieve the global target of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.

CGHE works internationally to eliminate viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and C, by supporting health systems, sharing research and successful practices, promoting vaccination and treatment, and providing technical assistance to countries.