New York, September 24 (QNA) - The State of Qatar participated in an event titled MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease) and MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis): Prioritizing a Global Public Health Threat, held in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

HE Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, represented the State of Qatar at the event.

The event, organized by Economist Impact, brought together a distinguished group of experts and decision-makers from around the world to discuss future projections and the necessary policies to mitigate the environmental, social, economic, and human factors contributing to the disease.

In her speech during the event, HE the Minister of Public Health stressed the importance of intensifying global efforts to tackle MASLD and MASH, alongside the need for further studies and assessments to determine the prevalence and economic and social impacts of the disease on countries worldwide.

Her Excellency also highlighted some of the effective national policies for the early detection and treatment of the disease, stating, "Screening for MASLD is part of the healthcare provided to patients with obesity and diabetes in Qatar, and it is incorporated into the guidelines, protocols, and patient pathways in both primary and secondary care across the country".

Dr. Al Kuwari underscored the integrated care provided to patients across primary and secondary care services, as well as the ease of referral processes depending on the patient's condition. She also underlined the care provided at the Qatar Metabolic Institute at Hamad Medical Corporation (QMI-HMC) and the specialized clinics for liver diseases, as well as from the multidisciplinary medical teams, including the liver disease team from the gastroenterology clinics.

Her Excellency also stressed the important role of awareness efforts and health promotion campaigns regarding obesity, MASLD, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.
Her Excellency stated, "In the State of Qatar, we have programs to tackle obesity through collaboration across all sectors. We have managed to halt the rise in obesity and diabetes prevalence within the country. Additionally, we aim to reduce the prevalence of obesity by seven percent and decrease deaths from non-communicable diseases by 36 percent by 2030, in line with our recently launched National Health Strategy 2024-2030".

MASLD is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver due to metabolic issues such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. MASH is a more severe form of MASLD, where, in addition to fat accumulation, the liver becomes inflamed and damaged, potentially leading to cirrhosis, liver failure, or various types of cancer, including liver cancer, if left untreated.

Estimates suggest that one in three adults worldwide has some form of metabolic dysfunction associated with liver disease, and many of those affected are asymptomatic and unaware of their condition.

Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to metabolic dysfunction associated with steatohepatitis, resulting in life-threatening complications and risks.

This delay also increases healthcare costs due to extended hospital stays. More importantly, it results in premature deaths and a reduced quality of life for family members, which underscores the need to prioritize liver health.

(QNA)