Program to treat kidney patients

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Health Ministry has commenced a program to offer treatment for kidney patients. Under this, many kidney treatment centres have been opened countrywide.

Four treatment centres cost the Ministry Rs 10.1 billion, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

He said the Ministry set up the Maligawatta Kidney treatment centre at a cost of Rs 500 million and the kidney treatment centre established at Anuradhapura Hospital cost Rs 450 million.

The Ministry spent Rs 40 million on the kidney treatment centre established at the Nikawewa Base Hospital. Another Rs 20 million spent on the centre set up at Dehiaththakandiya Hospital. Kidney diseases are on the rise in certain parts of the country since early '90s. The areas are located in the North Central, North Western and Central Provinces.

The reasons for this situation is yet to be discovered.

Health professionals suspect Cadmium, Aluminum, Fluorides and Super-phosphates are some of the factors that cause this.

Diabetic, Hypertension, Leptospirosis and Caculus diseases make the people vulnerable tokidney diseases.