Unveiling the Hidden Threat: 50,000 Jawadhu Hills Tribals to Be Screened for Silent Liver Disease

In a major public health program, a team from Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, along with the state health department, has launched a massive project to screen 50,000 tribal inhabitants of the Jawadhu Hills area for fatty liver disease. The large-scale screening will help tackle the growing issue of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in vulnerable and underserved tribal populations, who usually have limited access to healthcare and early diagnosis.

 

The project will send mobile health units with diagnostic equipment and healthcare personnel to rural villages in the Jawadhu Hills. Ultrasound scans and lifestyle analysis will be done during the screening, focusing on detection of early indicators of liver malfunction and risk factors like obesity, diabetes, and malnutrition.

 

With 50,000 persons as the target, the project aims to collect useful epidemiological information, inform future preventive measures, and enable early medical interventions among those at risk. The project highlights the dedication of MGR Medical University and the health department towards better liver health and the reduction of chronic disease burden among Tamil Nadu's tribal populations.

 

Source: The Hindu