A team of senior doctors from New Delhi conducted a survey in Uddanam region of Srikakulam district on Tuesday to ascertain the reasons for the prevalence of kidney ailments in the area.
Following instructions from the Centre, the Indian Council of Medical Research sent the experts’ team headed by Diwakar Nandan Jha. Dharma Rakshak of NIMS, Hyderabad, K.K. Nag of Ahmedabad and Bhatnagar of New Delhi are the other members of the team. They visited Synuru and Metturu in Vajrapukotturu mandal. The experts collected blood, urine samples from the patients and enquired about their food habits and source of drinking water. Recently, a team from the National Centre for Disease Control visited the area.
The Union government is trying to instil confidence among the kidney patients by sending another team. However, the teams’ visit was reportedly confined to only one day though they were scheduled to stay for more than three days but a majority of people of the region are sceptical, saying though several surveys have been undertaken in the past there has been no tangible result. As many as 3,200 people have reportedly died of kidney diseases in the last eight years in mandals such as Mandasa, Kanchili, Sompeta, Palasa, Santabommali and other places. At least 10 to 15 persons got affected by kidney disorders in several villages.
Itchapuram MLA and founder of the Uddanam Foundation, Piriya Sairaj alleged that both the Central and State governments were not doing anything beyond sending teams. No follow-up action had been taken till date.
“The patients need a dialysis unit in their vicinity. Mineral water plants have to be set up to provide safe drinking water so that the ailments could be controlled to some extent. The sufferers should be given free bus passes so that they can go to Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam for dialysis and treatment,” Mr. Sairaj said.
