Experts emphasize building awareness on increasing incidence of liver disease & timely vaccinations

New Delhi: The ‘Illness to Wellness’ initiative, in collaboration with the highly reputed Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), on the occasion of World Liver Day focused on spreading awareness on the critical issue of liver disease and highlighted the essential precautions necessary for maintaining optimal liver health.

Dr Shiv K Sarin, Director & Chancellor of ILBS, delivered an insightful lecture titled “How Do I Keep My Liver Healthy?” at the APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium, ILBS. The lecture centered around the theme “Healthy Liver Happy Life,” aligning perfectly with this year’s World Liver Day theme of “Keep your liver healthy and disease-free.”

During the public lecture, Dr. Shiv K Sarin highlighted the alarming prevalence of fatty liver among Indians, revealing that 1 in 3 individuals in the country are affected. Liver disease is a pandemic of mammoth proportions and fatty liver often precedes more serious conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney diseases and heart disease. Dr. Sarin emphasized that the normal fat content in the liver should ideally be 5% or less. However, if it exceeds 10%, it indicates the presence of fatty liver. Fatty liver can stem from various factors, with obesity being considered to be the primary contributor. Other reasons could be conditions such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus or insulin resistance, elevated levels of blood cholesterol or high triglycerides, excessive alcohol consumption and malnutrition.

Dr Sarin also laid emphasis on the critical subject of prevention, emphasizing that alongside maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, individuals should prioritize undergoing SGPT tests to assess fatty liver presence. Dr. Sarin urged for the dispelling of misconceptions surrounding Hepatitis, emphasizing that is not to be associated with other diseases like AIDS. He stressed the importance of raising awareness about the transmission routes, clarifying that Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and from mother to baby. Hepatitis B can be effectively controlled through universal vaccination of new-borns as well as should be provided to all people suffering from the disease, also adding that 90 percent of people suffering from Hepatitis C are generally cured.

Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM National CSR Council, said, “It is extremely important to be aware of liver health, understand the consequences of an unhealthy liver and take adequate precautions. The liver plays a central role in numerous bodily functions, and an unhealthy liver can have far-reaching consequences, exposing individuals to multiple diseases. Regular testing and proactive measures are important to detect and address issues before they escalate into serious conditions such as liver cirrhosis or cardiovascular problems. Raising awareness about Hepatitis B and C is essential to combatting the associated stigma and discrimination with these ailments, I implore all individuals to take charge of their liver health and focus on the critical aspect of prevention.”

Illness to Wellness in association with ILBS hosted a Walkathon and a Public Lecture on April 20th, commemorating World Liver Day, observed on April 19th. The Walkathon dedicated to raising awareness about liver health was held on the morning of April 20th, drawing enthusiastic participation from both healthcare professionals and members of the general public alike. Setting off from the ILBS campus, participants walked along a designated route which culminated in the Community Centre, Sector D2 of Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.