Kidney ailments taking toll in Uddanam

Srikakulam: Kidney diseases in Uddanam area of Srikakulam became point of discussion, once again with actor-turned-politician and Jana Sena Party (JSP) Chief Pawan Kalyan’s tour in Itchapuram on Tuesday.

Kidney diseases issue came to light in 1995 as some doctors belongs to Sompeta mandal appraised the problem to experts in Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad.

However, still the governments and various research institutes are to find a solution for it.

It is said that funds crunch was a major setback in finding a cure.

Almost eight different institutions have conducted research to find root cause for the disease.

USA-based Harvard University medical team collected details along with local non-government organisation (NGO), Seva.

Subsequently Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) scientists’ team conducted a study along with Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) doctors.

Stony Brue university of New York also studied the disease with Hyderabad nephrologists.

Later, New Delhi based National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Andhra University and other institutions collected details but yet to found root cause.

According to Seva organiser P Srinivasa Rao, about 1500 patients died of kidney diseases in the past 10 years in Uddanam region.

Some studies revealed that silicon content was excess in the water, which might be leading to the disease.

While, a few researchers pointed about that excessive use of adulterated tea powder besides indiscriminate use of pesticides on crops a reason for the diseases.

“Lack of political will is worsening the situation,” opined Sompeta-based doctor Yaradi Krishna Murthy.

While nephrologist of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences Dr Sharath Jyotsna said that they were providing inputs to research institutes apart from treating patients suffering with kidney diseases.