In News:

• Ranchi, Jharkhand, is poised to become the first district in the state to launch a comprehensive campaign for the screening and management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), now redefined as Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
• The initiative will be carried out under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).
• The campaign will begin on April 19, marking World Liver Day, and aims to raise awareness and strengthen early detection and treatment of liver disorders in the population.

About NAFLD/MASLD:

• NAFLD refers to fat accumulation in the liver not caused by alcohol consumption.
• It includes two types:
  • Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL) – mild form.
  • Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) – severe form, can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, or cancer.
• It is increasingly prevalent in individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.
• NAFLD is asymptomatic in early stages but can elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and diabetes-related complications.
• Affects all age groups, including children.

Key Features of the Ranchi NAFLD Initiative:

• Two-phase Screening Drive:
  • Phase 1 (April–June): Focus on 30,000 high-risk individuals—those with obesity, diabetes, or hypertension.
  • Phase 2 (July–November): Screening expanded to all adults over 18 years in the district.
• Technical Support: Provided by the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi.
• Mobile Screening Vans:
  • Each van costs approx. ?1 crore.
  • Equipped with FibroScan, an advanced, non-invasive liver diagnostic tool.
  • Services provided free of cost in both urban and rural areas.
• Capacity Building:
  • 30–40 district-level officers to be trained as master trainers.
  • Frontline healthcare workers will be trained to conduct screenings and data collection.
• Health System Strengthening:
  • Referral mechanisms to ensure patients receive specialised care.
  • Data tracking system to maintain records until integration with the national NCD portal.

Public Health Significance:

• As per the district's civil surgeon, 50% of OPD cases are liver-related.
• On average, 25 patients/day are diagnosed with liver disease; five require hospitalisation.
• Early detection through such initiatives can help prevent disease progression and mortality.

Treatment & Prevention of NAFLD:

• No specific drug currently exists for NAFLD.
• Weight loss remains the primary treatment—shown to reduce liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis.
• Management of comorbidities like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes is also recommended.