WHO team here to study rise in kidney diseases

Nadira Gunatilleke

A team of specialist doctors from the World Health Organisation (WHO) will arrive today to find out the main cause for the increase in kidney diseases in certain areas in Wayamba, North Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said Sri Lankan born doctor Prof. Shanthi Mendis, American doctor Prof. Reggie Paulten and WHO Asian Regional Consultant Dr. Habib Faiyed are in the WHO team. They will have a special meeting in Colombo with 100 local researchers including medical experts, consultants and doctors.

A similar situation has arisen in certain Baltic countries where rapidly increasing kidney diseases have been reported. The WHO is investigating how this same problem has arisen in two countries belonging to two entirely different regions and climates.

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry is screening residents in Wayamba, North Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces free as a precaution. No specific reason has been found out for the rapidly growing kidney diseases in the certain areas in Sri Lanka even after numerous studies by local expert teams.