KMCH conducted a Walkathon to create Awareness about Liver Diseases

The city police commissioner V  Balakrishnan on Sunday flagged off the walkathon, ‘healthy liver, happy life’, that was organized by Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital (KMCH) at Racecourse in the city to create awareness among the public about liver diseases. It was conducted to mark the occasion of the World Hepatitis Day. 

According to a statement from the hospital, fatty liver, viral hepatitis, and alcohol use are the prime reasons for an increase in liver diseases. Liver disease has symptoms at an early stage and it includes jaundice, leg swelling, and abdominal distension. Symptoms like blood vomiting or altered conscious level often indicate liver failure requiring imminent liver transplant.

During the event, viral hepatitis B and C check-ups were offered to the public. People were advised about lifestyle changes for fatty liver disease with emphasis on diet and exercise. The ill effects of alcohol were explained to the public, particularly with regard to liver disease and advice on avoiding alcohol intake, the statement added.

Addressing the gathering Balakrishnan said that the liver walkathon is an ideal platform for raising public awareness about the importance of having a healthy lifestyle.
KMCH Executive Director, Dr. Arun Palaniswami, highlighted the increasing prevalence of liver diseases, especially amongst the younger population including women. 

He commended the efforts of the liver transplant team led by Dr. Paari Vijayaragavan for their efforts in raising public awareness with regard to liver diseases and offering excellent liver transplant services locally for the people of Western Tamilnadu. 

He also announced a subsidized comprehensive liver health check-up for four weeks in August which includes liver tests, viral hepatitis screening, ultrasound and fibroscan.
Dr. Paari Vijayaragavan, liver transplant surgeon, explained how transplants had evolved into an everyday life-saving procedure during his career and how KMCH performs with state-of-the-art facilities and with universally comparable outcomes. 

He also pointed out that some of the walkathon participants had undergone cadaver, live, combined liver-kidney, and domino transplants at KMCH.

More than 200 post-liver transplant and liver disease patients, a team of doctors, nurses and staff from KMCH liver transplant, KMCHIHSR medical students and the public participated in the event. They walked to create awareness among the public about the risk factors, prevention and time-based care for liver diseases.