Kidney ailment cause to be unearthed in June

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The cause for chronic Kidney Disease due to Unknown Origin (CKDU) can be unravelled by June this year and the Sri Lankan Government needs to be congratulated for the steps that have been taken to manage CKDU, WHO Representative in Sri Lanka Dr F R Mehta said.

Addressing a seminar on CKDU at the Health Education Bureau yesterday, Dr Mehta said that at present a comprehensive research by local and foreign institutions are being carried on to detect the reason / reasons behind CKDU. The initial cost of the research had been estimated as one million US $. It is being done by the WHO, Geneva, Health Ministry, local state universities such as Colombo, Peradeniya, Rajarata, National Science Foundation etc and many other local and foreign institutions. It was initiated following a special request made to the WHO by former Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva.

According to Dr Merta there are 10 different arms in the research. The population based study of the research is already completed.

Blood, Urine etc samples obtained had been sent to a laboratory in Belgium to conduct further investigations. The environmental study has also been done.

Samples had been sent to Belgium in connection with the Postmortem Study. Details of 2000 CKD cases have been computerized. Six other studies in connection with the research are going on.

A lot of good work has been done in Sri Lanka to assist the families of CKD patients. CKD cause huge expenditure to households. In future all can come to a conclusion in connection with the CKDU. Similar condition exist in some Baltic countries but the reason behind the situation is still unknown after a period of 20 years, he added.

Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Palith Mahipala said that 4.6 percent (Rs. 350 million) of the health budget has spent on managing CKD patients. Facilities and treatment available for CKD patients have already been upgraded. Special transplant and dialysis units had been set up at Maligawatta, Kandy, Anuradhapura and few other places.

Facilities available at hospitals such as Padaviya, Nikawewa, Medavachchiya to detect CKD patients.

Consultant assistant Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige said that the majority of CKDU are between 40 and 60 years male paddy farmers with poor economic condition and for a long duration smokes. CKDU is the third leading cause in the Anuradhapura district and it is the fourth leading cause for death in the Polonnaruwa district. But in the country it is only the 11th leading cause for death, he added.