Srinagar: Directorate of Health Services Kashmir’s Epidemiology and Public Health Division, in collaboration with the NCDC, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, organized an inaugural workshop and training program to launch the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) initiative.
Held at the Banquet Hall, the event was inaugurated by Director of Health Services Kashmir, Dr. Jehangir Bakshi.
The program saw attendance from key health officers including Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed (Divisional Nodal Officer, NHM), Dr Jatinder Mehta (State Programme Manager, NHM), Dr Nighat Yasmeen DD Headquarters, Dr Saba Wani DD Schemes,Dr Anjum Afshan Epidemiologist DHSK, Epidemiology Division DHSK, Mr Irfan Giri Deputy Director Planning, Senior Divisional Health Officers of Directorate, all CMOs, NCDC MOs, and DEOs from across the districts.
Dr. Anjum Afshan delivered the welcome address & provided a brief overview of the program’s implementation.This was followed by a brief felicitation ceremony honoring Dr. Bakshi, other dignitaries and the technical committee for NAFLD in Kashmir.
In his keynote address, Dr. Bakshi emphasized the urgent need for mass awareness to combat the silent epidemic of NAFLD from its onset. He highlighted the increasing trends in obesity, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, insulin resistance and poor lifestyle choice, such as a bad diet, irregular eating habits, and low physical activity—as key contributing factors. He urged all district staff to participate wholeheartedly to tackle this impending epidemic.
Dr. Jatinder Mehta from NHM stressed the importance of acquiring two FibroScan devices for the Kashmir Division.The workshop also featured several detailed presentations ; Dr. Rouf Hussain Rathar, Assistant Professor at GMC Anantnag, presented on the operational guidelines for NAFLD under NP-NCD, Dr. Riyaz Saif Andrabi, Consultant Gastroenterologist at JLNM Hospital, provided a clinical perspective on the diagnosis and management of NAFLD.
Moreover Dr. Rouf Hussain Rathar and Dr. Anjum Afshan jointly presented a roadmap for the fight against NAFLD in Kashmir.
A detailed discussion on the program’s implementation followed, with all participants contributing their valuable inputs.The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Shoaib Mohmad Khan.
