World Digestive Health Day 2013 Events & Success Stories

When: May 2013
Location: Brussels, Belgium

To honor the occasion of World Digestive Health Day, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and United European Gastroenterology (UEG) participated in an event held in Brussels, which was hosted by Karin Kadenbach, Member of the European Parliament (MEP). The event focused specifically on the importance of research into liver cancer and alcohol as a risk factor. View the Press Release here.

When: May, 2013
Location: University of Chile Clinical Hospital, social media

Numerous events were held in Chile in support of WDHD 2013, including the creation of a website on digestive health (www.redclinica.cl), creation of a video on this year's theme which was placed online (http://bit.ly/ZymgUw), dissemination of a text message to 8,420 people discussing liver cancer, Facebook and Twitter postings.

When: December 8, 2012
Location: Cairo

Two presentations on HCC took place during the 5th Hepatology and Gastroenterology Post Graduate Course in Cairo titled “Medical Management of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma” and “Hepatitis C and Cryoglobulinemia; An Update.”

When: February 20-23, 2013
Location: Hurghada

A two hour symposium on HCC will take place during the 16th International HPB Congress.

When: February, 2013
Location: Addis Ababa

A lecture given by Professor Ibrahim Mostafa on HCC will take place. More details to be available soon.

When: May 26, 2013
Location: Near Rohini International Hotel
Contact: Tamilnadu Chapter of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology

A walkathon will take place followed by a public awareness programme.

When: July 28, 2013
Location: Panki, Kanpur

A free health check-up camp will take place on the occassion of World Hepatitis Day.

When: June 6, 2013
Location: Almaty City, Kazakhstan
Contact: Roza R. Bektayeva, President, National Gastroenterology Association of Kazakhstan

A conference will be held to celebrate WDHD 2013.

When: May 30, 2013
Location: Riga, Latvia

A scientific and clinical conference for general practitioners, internists, gastroenterologists and radiologists will take place.

When: June 1, 2013
Location: Mohammadia
Contact: Professor Alaoi Rhimou, SMMAD President, and Doctor Bouta Leb Mohamed, SMMAD Secretary General

Numerous activities were held by The Société Marocaine des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif and the WGO Training Center of Rabat including a scientific roundtable, radio interviews, newspaper articles, and press releases.

When: February 2, 2013
Location: Khyber, Hyderabad

A Hepatitis Awareness Program – Awareness, screening, and vaccination camp – took place, arranged jointly by AIMS Hospital and Aga Khan Health Services. One thousand people were screened and Professor Sadik Memon delivered a comprehensive talk regarding HBV and HCV management.

When: May 29, 2013
Location: Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar

A full day seminar for trainees, doctors and family physicians will take place followed by a public awareness walk.

When: May 29, 2013
Location: Avari Hotel Lahore

The Punjab Chapter will hold a full day workshop on Liver Cancer.

When: May 29, 2013
Location: Shifa Hospital Islamabad

The Federal Chapter will observe the day with lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students on the theme.

When: May 29, 2013

The Baluchistan Chapter will hold a public awareness campaign on the topic of liver cancer, organized by Dr. Sherbat Khan.

When: May 31, 2013

A conference will take place featuring a symposium on HCC: Global Warning, Global Answers. More details to be available soon.

When:October 11-13, 2013
Location: Cape Town

Biennial Congress of the Hepatopancreatobiliary Association of South Africa. This year’s theme will be Oncotherapy in HPB Diseases. This truly multidisciplinary meeting will be held as regional collaboration with WGO whose current World Digestive Health Day theme in Liver Cancer.

Day 1: Hepatocellular Cancer
Day 2: Metastatic liver and Neuroendocrine tumors
Day 3: Pancreatic and Biliary Neoplasia

International Faculty Include: Professors Thomas Aloia, Anderson Hospital, Houston; Douglas LaBrecque, Iowa University and WGO Foundation Member; and Lewis Roberts, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.

Date: March 22-24, 2013
Location: Dubai, UAE
Contact: Dr. Maryam Al Khatry, President, http://www.eghc2013.com/welcome.html

The Emirates Gastroenterology & Hepatology Conference 2013 will devote two hours of EGHC 2013 scientific program to cover HCC.

When: May 29, 2013
Location: Dubai

A CME program for general practitioners will take place through the Emirates Gastroenterology Society.

When:November 9-13, 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Website: http://www.aasld.org/lm2012/2012/Pages/default.aspx

The annual AASLD Liver Meeting will take place, featuring various courses, workshops, plenaries, poster presentations, lectures, symposia, and a global forum.

When: February 5, 2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA

A presentation was given by WDHD Chairman Dr. Douglas LaBrecque titled "World Digestive Health Day 2013-Liver Cancer." Goals of the program included making those aware of the burden of liver disease in the United States and the steady and rapid rise in incidence of HCC, including the fact that most cases are diagnosed only at an advanced stage; recognizing the critical role of the primary care health provider in addressing this national public health problem; and becoming aware of the global health crisis due to liver disease, especially viral hepatitis and HCC, and place the severity of this health problem in perspective with other global health problems.

When: November 5-6, 2013
Location: Washington, DC

The Liver Cancer Roundtable Co-Chairs, Dr. Douglas LaBrecque, Iowa University and Lorren Sandt, Caring Ambassadors Program, along with leading academic experts in liver cancer, patient advocates and representatives from HHS, NIH and the CDC, held a two day long event which will provide the basis for a first draft of a National Action Plan for the prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment of liver cancer. Read more in the press release now!

When: February-May 2013

Various activities will be taking place in Venezuela in support of WDHD 2013. A meeting with the community "How to Prevent Liver Cancer' will take place in February, a exhibition by medical students for the community on "What is HCC" will take place in March, a course on HCC - screening and management strategies - will take place in April, and a Walk For Health will take place on May 19. Educational materials are also being developed in support of the campaign. More details will be available soon.

When: May 23, 2013
Location: Hospital Universitario, Regional Reference Center of Gastroenterology, Endoscopy and Hepatology

A symposium on “How to Get to Hepatocarcinoma”, coordinated by Dr. Maribel Lizarzabel, will be held on May 23. It will include lectures on: “From Hepatitis B and C to HCC. Involved Mechanisms”, “Alcoholism and Its Relationship with Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer”, “Metabolic Syndrome – Hepatic Steatosis – Insulin Resistance - Obesity may be attached to Cirrhosis and HCC?”, “Impact of the Images for Screening – Diagnosis and Treatment of HCC”, and “Utility of HCC Screening and Therapeutic Alternatives.”