Uddanam kidney disease: Pawan Kalyan hits out at Andhra govt, Nara Lokesh responds

Responding to Pawan’s statement, Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh took to Twitter to explain the steps taken by the state government.
Uddanam kidney disease: Pawan Kalyan hits out at Andhra govt, Nara Lokesh responds
Uddanam kidney disease: Pawan Kalyan hits out at Andhra govt, Nara Lokesh responds
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Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government must come up with solutions to tackle the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Srikakulam district's Uddanam region.

Demanding that the ruling TDP government should declare a health emergency, he also said that he would go on a hunger strike in 48 hours if his conditions were not met.

The Jana Sena party chief was Interacting with kidney patients in Palasa on the fourth day of his journey across the state, dubbed 'Praja Porata Yatra'.

Pawan also pointed out that the state did not have a Health Minister and also cited the lack of coordination between the state and Centre, even though both governments had taken up the issue.

Former Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas from the BJP submitted his resignation after the TDP's decision to leave the NDA government.

“It is a pity that there are so many kidney patients. The medical experts from the US advised us to set up dialysis centres immediately. Merely setting up three dialysis centres is not enough. I wonder when they will find a solution to this issue. I demand inducting a health minister and special team for the purpose immediately,” he was quoted as saying.

Responding to Pawan’s statement, Andhra IT Minister Nara Lokesh took to Twitter to explain the steps taken by the state government.

In a series of tweets, Lokesh said, “7 Mandals in Uddanam. 80 villages. 238 habitations. 7 RO mother plants completed. 109 Reg Distribution Units completed & 29 in progress. 16 cr spent. All CKD patients undergoing dialysis services in Gov dialysis centers are also being given a monthly pension of Rs. 2,500 (sic).”

“More than 1 lakh people screened for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) by 15 mobile teams in 4 months. 13,093 with abnormal test results were referred to nearby 4 Community Health Centres (CHC) for evaluation and management. A new lab was established at CHC, Sompeta for follow up of CKD cases under NTR Vaidya Parikshalu,” he added.

Lokesh also said that three new Renal Dialysis Units were established in addition to the existing ones, adding that a total of 64816 sessions had been conducted until now.

“To reduce out-of-pocket payments, nephrologist services are made available once in 15 days at dialysis centers, and 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. George Institute for Global Health, Australia was chosen by ICMR to research on the root causes of CKD problem in Uddanam area and take effective preventive measures. A Research Center is established at VIMS, Visakhapatnam and field activities are in progress in Uddanam area,” Lokesh said.

“Our government is making an honest effort to get to the root of CKD problem and is doing everything to safeguard the health of those affected. I request all to kindly verify the facts before jumping into conclusions,” he concluded.

What is Uddanam Nephropathy?

The Uddanam region that lies in north-coastal Andhra consists of the mandals of Kaviti, Sompeta, Kanchili, Itchapuram, Palasa and Vajrapukotturu, accounting for more than 100 villages in total.

As of 2015, It was estimated that more than 4500 people had died in the last ten years, and around 34,000 people were suffering from kidney diseases in this area alone. 

It was reported that each family in the area had at least one person suffering from a kidney ailment. The cases had first mysteriously surfaced in the early 90s.

Symptoms included hypertension and diabetes, followed by a long asymptomatic period, and later diagnosed with excess proteins in the urine, decreased red blood cell count and high levels of uric acid in the blood.

The phenomenon was discussed and termed Uddanam Nephropathy at the 2013 International Congress of Nephrology held in Hong Kong.

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