EASL & ExCeL team-up to highlight liver awareness amongst children

Local school pupils were the special guests at the recent International Liver Congress - held at ExCeL London - as part of a legacy programme to highlight awareness of the liver and how to look after it through good diet and healthy living.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation reported a sudden and unexplained increase in acute hepatitis cases in children as young as five, many of whom lived in the UK. Whilst still being investigated, it was one of the key topics for the Congress which took place at ExCeL from 22-26 June as was the first time the community had been able to meet face-to-face since the pandemic. 

The pupils from Calverton Primary School in Newham received a visit from Dr Kosh Agarwal before taking part in a special art project, all designed to raise awareness of the importance of looking after your liver from an early age. Dr Agarwal is Consultant Hepatologist and Transplant Physician at King's College Hospital, as well as lead for the Viral Hepatitis Service, the largest treatment centre for viral hepatitis in the UK. The students were then invited to attend the Congress to see their artwork on display, as well as attend a special seminar.  

Furthermore, during the Congress, ExCeL staff were offered free liver health checks – a simple, 15-minute procedure – to detect any early signs of liver disease. 

The ventures were organised as part of ExCeL’s legacy programme and one of a series of schemes the Royal Docks venue runs in order to highlight special causes from the events it hosts. Previous examples include last year’s European AIDS Conference which saw a special research study undertaken on the Newham Borough.

Hosted by the home of Hepatology (EASL), the four-day International Liver Congress was attended by some 5,000 delegates together with more than 400 specialists in hepatology meeting to share their invaluable knowledge and know-how.   

For more information on the International Liver Congress visit here