Delhi govt to set-up four more ILBS centres in state

Delhi government will soon set up four more centres of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) which has been designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) on viral hepatitis and liver diseases.

New Delhi: Delhi government will soon set up four more centres of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) which has been designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) on viral hepatitis and liver diseases.

"We will build four satellite centres of ILBS in East Delhi, Rohini, Dwarka and inside LNJP hospital complex, while the one here (at Vasant Kunj) will remain the main centre," said Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain after inaugurating the first global WHO Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) on liver diseases and second centre on viral hepatitis.

The only other WHOCC in hepatitis is the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at Atlanta in USA.

"The government is ready to provide all help like space, manpower etc required to set up the four centres which will offer first level of treatment," Jain said.

He stressed on spreading awareness about hepatitis and other liver diseases among the public and pointed to consumption of alcohol and unhealthy dietary habits as major causes for liver diseases.

He also said that people should fast regularly to keep their livers healthy.

"Now people are very much aware about heart diseases but there is no awareness about liver diseases. It is the responsibility of medical institutions to create awareness about the same. Before people reach medical centres after falling sick, medical institutions should attempt to reach out to them thereby ensuring effective cure," Jain said.

The minister also released the first-ever National Consultative meet report on viral hepatitis at the event.

ILBS Director Dr Shiv Sarin said that viral hepatitis and liver diseases are amongst the biggest killers in the world and that this collaboration has three main objectives.

"ILBS will involve in research and help WHO form protocols for prevention, diagnosis and management of viral hepatitis and liver diseases. Secondly, we will form modules to reach out to people in rural areas and generate awareness and thirdly we would also help to train and develop skilled manpower at a global scale.

"Asia houses over seventy five per cent of hepatitis B and C and liver cancer cases. India has close to 60 million such patients. By being designated as WHOCC in this field, research being done at ILBS could potentially benefit millions of people around the world," Sarin said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative in India, expressed the hope that ILBS and WHO collaboration will help develop strategies which will reach the grass root levels.

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