The problem of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a medical challenge and also a social responsibility, T. Ravi Raju, former Vice-Chancellor of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, has said.
Dr. Ravi Raju participated as chief guest at the 25th Dr. C. Vyaghreswarudu Memorial Oration, organised by Prema Hospital, at Pradhama Hospital here on Sunday.
Dr. Vyaghreswarudu was a renowned orthopaedecian and teacher of noted orthopaedic surgeon S.V. Adinarayana Rao.
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Delivering the oration, Dr. Ravi Raju said that it was detected several years ago that 16% of the people of the Uddanam region in Srikakulam district were suffering from CKD. Water and food was analysed, and preventive measures were advocated, but the reason could not be established. The efforts were subsequently given up.
JSP initiative
The issue was once again brought into focus by Jana Sena Party (JSP) founder and actor Pawan Kalyan.
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The State government constituted a committee to conduct a fresh study under his (Dr. Ravi Raju’s) supervision. The study screened 1.02 lakh people in the Uddanam region and found that 13% were suffering from CKD. This was the first ever study conducted on such a large population. The study revealed that of the 13% people suffering from CKD, 64% were men and the remaining women.
It was observed that the disease was affecting people working in fields, doing manual labour, and the poor. Early detection and medication was necessary to prevent further progression of the disease, he said.
‘Uddanam nephropathy’
On the future course of action, Dr. Ravi Raju said that several hypotheses were made regarding water contamination, pesticide residues, drug reactions, and genetic predisposition to the disease. But to eliminate the problem, the exact cause of the disease should be established, Dr. Ravi Raju said, and recalled how he had named it ‘Uddanam nephropathy’ and it was accepted.
He said three such CKD endemic areas were there in Sri Lanka, Nicaragua (Central America), and the Balkan countries. Though the problem was confirmed in these places, the cause could not be established. They were later named as CKD of Uncertainty (CKD U). He called for greater research on the disease. Former Director of Medical Education R. Sasi Prabha and chairperson of Pradhama Hospital presided.
Director of Medical Education Subba Rao, Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) Director Satya Varaprasad, Andhra Medical College Principal P.V. Sudhakar, King George Hospital superintendent G. Arjuna participated as guests of honour.
Former Rector of Andhra University A. Prasanna Kumar participated as a special guest.