HOME（Japanese） > English Top > Greeting from the Director of Center
Liver Center of Saga University Hospital was established along with the Medical Faculty Liver Disease Support Studies in January 2012. We have taken actions against hepatitis and liver cancers, aiming for breaking away from the worst death rate due to liver cancers which Saga Prefecture has been continued, based on the total cooperation of various organizations such as Saga Prefecture, municipalities, and medical associations.
This Liver Center has been engaged in the following measures, leaded by the first director of Center: Yuichiro Eguchi, the specially-appointed professor:
1.Versatile enlightenment such as not only medical organizations but also lectures about liver cancers and hepatitis for citizens of Saga Prefecture, as well as promotion of hepatitis screening
2.Total cooperation for training and supporting activities of hepatitis medical care coordinators that Saga Prefecture has proceeded
3.Activities and studies of prevention and treatment for hepatitis and liver cancers applying social marketing methods based on the analysis of hepatitis in the prefecture
Furthermore, as a research project of overcoming hepatitis of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, we have carried out the research to verify and expand the effect of preventing hepatitis since 2014, from hepatitis screening and medical examination to medical treatment. And we have improved the liver disease awareness method which was developed in Saga Prefecture, and expanded it domestically and globally. As a result of making effort by the citizen of prefecture, patients, medical workers and all people relating with the project, Saga Prefecture grew out of the worst of death rate due to liver cancers for the first time in 20 years.
Measures against hepatitis and liver cancers are coming to a new stage. Although Saga Prefecture has grown out of the worst, the death rate due to liver caners is still higher than the national average, so that how we decrease it is our task as well as the mission of this Center. Also, it is found that there are many people who has not taken hepatitis screening among prime age workers.
Especially, progress of treatment of hepatitis C has made the virus disappeared in almost all the cases, but still liver cancer is found after the treatment, that is, early detection was not accomplished among many patients. In addition, as a factor of liver cancer, liver cancers due to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), which is called “metabolic phenotype liver cancer”, tend to increase nationwide, so as to Saga Prefecture. Also it is needed to continue to improve inspections, examination and treatment for various chronic liver disease, including hepatitis B and alcoholic hepatopathy.
In cooperation with the citizen of prefecture, patients, Saga Prefecture Government, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the relevant departments, this Center will make progress to contribute measures against hepatitis and liver cancers, which leads to treatment for more and more patients. And we will never stop the progress until liver cancers extinguishes in Saga Prefecture. We will play a role of this Center with much enthusiasm to meet your heartwarming support and local needs.
