Patna: Bihar will launch a state-wide screening and prevention campaign targeting around 26 lakh people aged above 30 over the next 18 months to detect fatty liver disease and strengthen efforts to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The initiative, titled ‘Healthy Liver, Healthy Bihar’, was reviewed at a high-level meeting held at the Health Department headquarters on Monday. The meeting was jointly chaired by Health Minister Nishant and Health Secretary Kumar Ravi.
The campaign will cover all 38 districts of Bihar, with technical support from the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi.
Screening to cover all 38 districts
The decision to roll out the campaign across the state was discussed with Dr S.K. Sarin, Director and Chancellor of ILBS, who joined the meeting through video conferencing.
The initiative aims to promote early detection of fatty liver, support prevention efforts and increase public awareness about the condition.
The programme will be integrated with Bihar’s existing non-communicable disease control programme and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, allowing people to access screening and basic healthcare services closer to their homes.
ASHA workers, ANMs and Jeevika Didis to support outreach
The Health Department plans to involve ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Community Health Officers (CHOs) and Jeevika Didis in the campaign.
These frontline workers will help spread awareness through household visits and facilitate preliminary health screenings at the community level.
The use of existing healthcare networks is intended to make the campaign accessible across rural and urban areas.
25,000 health workers to receive training
To strengthen implementation, the department plans to train around 25,000 healthcare personnel, including doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians.
The training programme will include 150 master trainers and focus on the identification and screening of fatty liver, along with appropriate medical guidance and counselling.
The department expects the training to improve the capacity of healthcare teams to identify suspected cases and guide people towards further medical assessment.
District-level monitoring planned
The campaign will be monitored through regular reviews at district, divisional and state levels.
District Magistrates will oversee progress at the district level, while Divisional Commissioners will review implementation in their respective divisions. The Health Minister will monitor the programme at the state level.
The monitoring mechanism is intended to ensure that screening targets and other campaign activities are completed within the stipulated 18-month period.
Health Minister stresses early detection and prevention
During the meeting, Health Minister Nishant directed officials to implement the campaign on priority and ensure coordination among the departments and agencies involved.
He said timely identification and prevention of fatty liver could help reduce the risk of serious health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
He also stressed the need to educate people about regular health check-ups, balanced diets and healthy lifestyle practices.
Executive Director of the State Health Society, Bihar, Dr Nawal Kishore Choudhary, and the Health Minister’s Private Secretary, Kaushalendra Kumar, were among those present at the meeting, along with senior Health Department officials.
