Latest news with #KalingaGastroenterologyFoundation
New Indian Express
28-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
80% population in Odisha vulnerable to Hepatitis B: Prof SP Singh
BHUBANESWAR: Over 80 per cent of Odisha's total population is still vulnerable to Hepatitis B infection that can simply be prevented through vaccination, said renowned gastroenterologist Prof SP Singh on Sunday. Speaking to TNIE on the eve of World Hepatitis Day, Prof Singh said about 0.9 per cent of population in the state is affected with Hepatitis B and the trend remains almost same for the last two-and-half decades. 'However, a majority of the population is still unaware of the infection, caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), impacting both prevention and control efforts,' he said. The chairman of the Kalinga Gastroenterology Foundation (KGF) said in a study carried out in Cuttack a few years back, the awareness among the people about the disease and vaccine was found to be just about 38 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively. Besides, about 50 per cent of those who were aware had no knowledge about the route of transmission, infectivity or importance of vaccination. The percentage of vaccination was also a mere 20. He called for stronger adherence to World Health Organisation (WHO)'s comprehensive approach to hepatitis that includes 'screen all, vaccinate all and treat all' to protect the population that has never been a part of the vaccination programme. He also sought compulsory vaccination for children in all schools. The KGF is set to celebrate its 25th Hepatitis B Eradication Day and the 15th World Hepatitis Day on Monday with this year's theme 'Lets Break Down.' The KGF will also present three awards - Blumberg Oration Award to eminent hepatologist Prof Nancy Reau from Chicago, KGF Samman to Prof Anup Kumar Das from AMC, Dibrugarh and Siba Panigrahi Samman to sculptor Sanjib Biswal.
New Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Five-km daily walk, half-plate meal can reverse nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Study
BHUBANESWAR: Not expensive medications, just a brisk 5-km daily walk and half-plate meal at lunch-dinner can significantly reverse nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) within a short period, a landmark study from Odisha has established. While NAFLD, a major precursor of serious diseases like liver cancer and cirrhosis, has emerged a leading public health problem in the country over the recent years, the study has challenged the growing dependence on medications for its treatment. Led by eminent gastroenterologist and former head of gastroenterology department at SCB MCH, Cuttack, Prof SP Singh, the team of researchers from various medical institutes in the country have demonstrated that a very simple combination of reduced diet and increased physical activity, particularly walking, can reverse NAFLD substantially. Conducted at the Kalinga Gastroenterology Foundation, the study followed 565 NAFLD patients over a one-year period. Majority of them were from rural areas and consumed high calorific diet. Around one-fifth of them had pre-existing type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The advice of the study team was simple: reduce dietary intake by 50 per cent and walk 5 km per day. The patients were followed up monthly and contacted weekly to ensure compliance. At the end of the year, the results were striking. As high as 85.2 per cent of the participants had lost weight with mean BMI reducing from 26.08 to 25.06. Liver stiffness decreased in nearly 68 per cent of the patients. A two-point reduction in liver stiffness was marked in 52 per cent, while one-stage reversal in liver fibrosis was observed in 40.5 per cent. Around 16.4 per cent of the patients also marked complete resolution of fatty liver. Improvements were also seen in fasting glucose, cholesterol levels, liver enzymes and insulin resistance.
