Moves to check Polonnaruwa's kidney disease rise

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will implement a special project to find out the reasons for the rapid increase in kidney patients in the Polonnaruwa district.

The number of kidney patients in the Polonnaruwa district has exceeded the national ratio, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry sources said. The sources said medical examinations on 70,000 persons in the Polonnaruwa district revealed that 3,760 persons suffer from kidney ailments and 267 have already passed the curable stage and cannot be cured with medication or surgery.

Two of the main reasons for kidney failure are increasing fluoride density of drinking water and use of fertiliser, cement and pesticides when producing illicit liquor.

According to doctors, kidney ailments can be diagnosed through a blood protein test. A special project has already been implemented to find reasons for the increase in kidney patients in North Central Province, Wayamba Province and Mahaweli B Region under the guidance of Dr.Thilak Abeysekara of the Kandy General Hospital.