Mumbai: Actor Amitabh Bachchan, who has been the brand ambassador for several public health campaigns against infectious diseases, such as polio and tuberculosis, now wants to take up the fight against a lifestyle disease: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
At the civic-run KEM Hospital’s centenary celebrations on Monday, the actor told a gathering of doctors and students that fatty liver needs a campaign similar to the polio elimination drive. “It took us eight years of talking about the two drops to eliminate polio,” but with govt’s help, the viral disease was eliminated from India, he said.
Bachchan’s interest in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) stems in part from his own health problems. “I stand before you with only 25% functional liver,” he said, alluding to his long-term problems with hepatitis B infection caused by an infected blood transfusion in the 1980s. He wants govt to start a national campaign that he would support as a goodwill ambassador.
However, unlike Bachchan’s liver problem that was caused by an infection, NAFLD is caused by fatty buildup in the organ mainly due to obesity; over time, the buildup causes serious liver scarring, called cirrhosis, and increases the risk of cancer.
At Monday’s function, Bachchan’s long-time physician Dr Jayant Barve, a KEM alumnus, told the audience that NAFLD has achieved epidemic proportions. It could soon emerge as the most common cause for liver transplant, said the senior gastroenterologist. Dr Akash Shukla, professor at KEM Hospital, said 20-30% of patients who arrive at the hospital with liver issues have a fatty liver.
Bachchan also inaugurated the hospital’s fatty liver clinic, which will open at 1.30pm every Friday. Apart from the fatty liver clinic, which is the brainchild of hospital dean Dr Sangeeta Rawat and Dr Barve, the hospital released an information booklet on the condition.
Bachchan said timely and proper medical advice is important for treatment of any disease. He said 50% of a patient’s recovery stems from assurances given by doctors. He said he had a long association with medicine, being hospitalised several times since the 1950s. He said doctors helped him at various stages, especially after the accident during the film ‘Coolie’. Pointing towards the medical students in attendance, Bachchan said, “If you are there, our future will be healthy and safe.”
