Special drive to detect fatty liver disease in city next month: Seth | Ranchi News

Ranchi: Ranchi is set to become the first district in Jharkhand to implement a large-scale campaign for the screening and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), the initiative aims to address the growing burden of fatty liver disease through early detection, capacity building, and improved healthcare infrastructure.
The campaign will be launched on April 19 to mark the World Liver Day, Ranchi MP and Union minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth said. “Fatty liver disease is becoming a serious issue in India, and Ranchi must set an example for the nation. It is alarming that one in four Indians is affected by this condition, and if left unchecked, it could become a health epidemic.”
Two be implemented in two phases, the first phase will focus on screening high-risk individuals, including those with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, along with 30,000 members of the general population between April to June. The second phase, from July to November, will expand screening to all adults over 18 years across the district.
To ensure the campaign’s success, extensive training will be provided to healthcare professionals. A master trainer program will equip 30-40 key district-level officers with the knowledge to train frontline healthcare workers.
“Technical support will be provided by the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi. Mobile vans equipped with state-of-the-art screening machines, each costing Rs 1 crore, will conduct screenings in urban and rural areas for free,” he said.
Highlighting the gravity of the issue, district civil surgeon Prabhat Kumar said, “In our OPD, nearly 50% of patients have liver-related ailments. Every day, about 25 patients are diagnosed with liver diseases, and approximately five require hospitalisation. In the past year, we recorded five liver disease-related deaths. However, early detection can help manage fatty liver, especially in its initial stages.”
He added, “Fibro-Scan is a highly advanced test for liver screening, and it will be available in the mobile vans to ensure accurate diagnosis.”
Data collection and monitoring will play a crucial role in the initiative. Screening data will be recorded in a tracking system until the national NCD portal integrates NAFLD-specific records. The programme also aims to strengthen the referral system, ensuring that those diagnosed with fatty liver disease receive specialised medical attention.