World Liver Day is annually observed across the globe on 19th April to create awareness about the importance of liver and liver related diseases. The day aims to inform the general public about liver infections and to provide timely treatment for the preventable illness.
About liver:
i.Liver is the 2nd largest and most complex organ(after Brain) in the body.
ii.The liver detoxifies various metabolites, synthesizes various essential proteins and produces biochemical enzymes which are necessary for digestion.
iii.The liver disease does not exhibit any signs and symptoms of deterioration until the liver is severely damaged.
iv.The various symptoms of liver diseases are nausea, upper abdominal pain and jaundice.
Liver Diseases in India:
i.According to the World Health Organisation(WHO), Liver Diseases are the 10th most common cause of death in India.
ii.The most common causes of liver-related deaths in India are Alcohol, Hepatotropic viruses and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Efforts of India:
i.The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program in July 2018.
ii.The program was launched with an aim to prevent and control Viral Hepatitis in India and to achieve sustainable development goal (SDG) 3.3 by 2030.
- SDG 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages”
- SDG 3.3: “end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases”.
