AP Govt took up all remedial measures, explains Lokesh

Amaravati: Reacting to the criticism launched by Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan on Uddanam kidney problem in Srikakulam, Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj Nara Lokesh said that the state government initiated corrective measures.

In a press release here on Thursday, the minister said that mass screening for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) cases in 7 mandals with high prevalence was taken up by deploying 15 special mobile medical teams from January 19, 2017 to April 15, 2017.

A total of 1,01,593 people were screened for CKD by collecting blood samples for Serum Creatinine and blood urea. Out of them, 13,093 with abnormal test results were identified and referred to nearby 4 Community Health Centres (CHCs) for comprehensive evaluation and management. A new lab was established at CHC, Sompeta for follow up of CKD cases, he explained.

To bring dialysis services closer to the people in Uddanam area, three  new dialysis centres were established at CHCs at Palasa, Sompeta and AH, Palakonda in addition to the existing dialysis centres at RIMS, Srikakulam and AH, Tekkali.

Now, in all, 5 dialysis centres with a total of 50 dialysis machines are operated in 3 sessions per day to meet the demand in the area, the release said. Till now 798 patients were provided dialysis services and 64,816 sessions were conducted.

Nephrologist services are made available once in 15 days at these dialysis centres.  In addition to dialysis services, supportive therapy for patients on dialysis as well as mild CKD cases are made available at all CHCs, PHCs and through Chandranna Sanchar Chikithsa vehicles. 

All CKD patients undergoing dialysis services in government dialysis centres are also being given a monthly pension of Rs. 2,500/-.  As a preventive measure, safe drinking water is provided by establishing 7 RO plants with a cost of 17 crore in Uddanam area.

The George Institute for Global Health, Australia was selected in competitive Grand Challenge method based on merit by ICMR to conduct research to find the root causes of the CKD problem in Uddanam area and to take effective preventive measures. A Research Centre is established at VIMS, Visakhapatnam and field activities are in progress in Uddanam area.

Explaining the details about the initiatives taken by state government to control the menace, Lokesh blamed that Pawan Kalyan was misleading the public on it for political benefits.

He further added that from the Panchayat Raj department also the government is providing safe drinking water to the kidney affected habitations in Uddanam area by providing Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants in Hub and Spoke model as is being done in Kuppam project.

Seven RO plants of 10,000 LPH capacity, covering 128 habitations and 14 wards of Palasa municipality in 7 mandals of kidney affected Uddanam area, were sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 16 crore to benefit 1,89,010, he added.