Task Force Leadership and Composition
The INASL (Indian Association for the Study of the Liver) Task Force on Preventive Hepatology is chaired by Professor Ajay Duseja and convened by Dr. Ajeet Singh Bhadoria. It includes multiple esteemed members from INASL, uniting expertise to advance preventive strategies against liver diseases like viral hepatitis, alcohol related and fatty/steatotic liver disease.
School Health Education Programs
The task force conducted targeted school health education programs to raise awareness on liver health among children and adolescents.
- Integrated sessions during INASL and ISGCON (Indian Society of Gastroenterology Conference) events.
- Standalone programs at Seema Dental College, Rishikesh; Delhi Public School, Chandigarh; Delhi Public School, Varanasi; and multiple schools in Amritsar.
These initiatives focused on preventive education, reaching thousands of students.
Observance of World Hepatitis Day 2025
On World Hepatitis Day 2025, the task force organized awareness campaigns emphasizing viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment. Activities included public rallies, educational webinars, and community screenings to amplify the global call to action in collaboration with AIIMS Rishikesh.
State-Level Consultation on NVHCP
On 28 July, 2025, a State-Level Consultation Meeting in Uttarakhand addressed implementation challenges for the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP). Discussions covered surveillance gaps, resource allocation, and strategies for scaling up interventions, fostering collaboration among policymakers, clinicians, and public health experts.
Fatty Liver Screening Camps
The task force launched screening camps to detect non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) early, targeting high-risk groups.
- Camps for sedentary administrative staff at AIIMS Rishikesh.
- Specialized screenings for school going adolescents at Rishikesh.
These efforts used non-invasive tools like portable transient elastography machine and risk assessments to promote lifestyle interventions.
Community Sensitization Activities
Innovative outreach engaged community service providers to spot early signs of insulin resistance and fatty liver.
- Trained tailors to identify excess waist circumference.
- Sensitized barbers to recognize acanthosis nigricans and skin tags on the neck.
Participants were advised to refer at-risk individuals to the Preventive Hepatology Clinic at AIIMS Rishikesh for further evaluation.
