Assam Health Minister Shri Keshab Mahanta flags off ‘Run For Your Liver’ rally

  North East Digestive and Liver Foundation creating awareness on liver health since 2008   Guwahati: Shri Keshab Mahanta, Minister o...

 

North East Digestive and Liver Foundation creating awareness on liver health since 2008

 

Guwahati: Shri Keshab Mahanta, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Assam today flagged off ‘Run For your Liver’ rally to mark Global Fatty Liver Day which is observed every year on 13^th June. The rally which was flagged off from Latasil playground witnessed a participation of over 1000 people from across all age groups.

In his address, Shri Keshab Mahanta thanked Dr BD Goswami for relentlessly organizing this awareness drive for the past several years. He said that everybody is aware of their health issues but they generally tend to ignore them. So, observing this day acts as a reminder for all that it is important to take care of oneself and to ‘love your liver’.

Several noted personalities participated in the rally - Dr. Samujjal Bhattacharya- Advisor, AASU; Smt. Chetana Das, Actor; Shri Achyut Chandra Baishya, Superintendent of GMCH; Dr. Amitava Goswami, Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, Former DGP and several others.   

Dr. BD Goswami, Senior Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Guwahati has been organising this rally since 2008. While addressing all the attendees, he emphasised that a regular health checkup is important from time to time since fatty liver is already affecting several people. He also said that some form of physical activity must be included in one’s daily routine.

Fatty liver disease, and its more advanced form, remains a concealed global epidemic. An estimated 357 million people will be affected by 2030. As symptoms of fatty liver disease are often not overt, it is often under-diagnosed and under-reported. Unchecked, fatty liver disease may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver transplant.

Shri Achyut Chandra Baishya, Superintendent of GMCH who also graced the occasion said that people are generally more aware of high blood pressure and diabetes but not well aware of fatty liver issues. He advised to test one’s liver at least once a year so that any problem detected in the initial stage itself can be cured fast.

The rally concluded at Nehru Stadium where participants were handed tree saplings by the organising team to help create a cleaner and greener environment.