The Cyprus Affiliation of Liver Sufferers “Promitheas” launched a brand new data marketing campaign on Friday, specializing in the dangers and prevention of fatty liver illness. In line with the affiliation, roughly 25 per cent of adults worldwide over the age of 20 endure from fatty liver illness, a determine anticipated to rise as a result of rising “weight problems epidemic.”
The difficulty can also be prevalent amongst youngsters, with 5-10 per cent of these identified with weight problems displaying indicators of fatty liver illness. Alarmingly, 38 per cent of overweight youngsters already exhibit indications of liver harm.
Former Well being Minister and MEP Michalis Hadjipantela, talking on the marketing campaign launch, harassed the risks of fatty liver illness, describing it as a “silent illness” that always progresses with out noticeable signs. He emphasised the significance of early analysis and prevention to mitigate the dangers.
An announcement by “Promitheas” echoed these warnings, noting that whereas sufferers might stay asymptomatic, the illness can result in extreme issues, together with cirrhosis and liver most cancers. The marketing campaign goals to boost consciousness about the advantages of wholesome consuming, bodily exercise and sustaining a wholesome weight as key preventive measures.
Hadjipantela additionally highlighted the important function of screening programmes in figuring out the illness early and enabling well timed therapy.
Present Well being Minister Michael Damianos affirmed the federal government’s dedication to enhancing healthcare entry for liver illness sufferers. “I guarantee you that each the ministry of well being and I’ll persist in upgrading healthcare providers for our residents,” he stated.
Damianos added that the primary physician from state well being providers organisation (Okypy) will go to obtain a one-year specialisation in transplant hepatology on the College Clinic in Tübingen in Germany.
He added that this was a part of a strategic settlement “of nice significance for Cyprus and healthcare in our nation” signed in November final 12 months.
Hepatologists, specialists in liver illnesses, differentiate between alcoholic liver illness (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver illness (NAFLD). Whereas NAFLD includes the fatty degeneration of liver cells, it’s typically thought of much less prone to trigger extreme liver harm in comparison with ALD.
