Master Plan to manage Kidney disease

Nadira Gunatilleke

Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke ordered health officials in the North Central Province (NCP) to formulate a Master Plan to manage the rapidly increasing chronic kidney disease in the NCP, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, Dr. Jayatilleke has ordered NCP Health officials to obtain the statistics relating to all kidney patients in the affected areas to ascertain the actual number of existing kidney patients. The details of these kidney patients are to be obtained in order to decide what stages they are in at the moment.

There are five stages of the chronic kidney disease and the patients' lives can be saved only during the first three stages.

"A Kidney transplant can be done before they arrive at stage four. Therefore, it s very important to identify kidney patients with their history. The Master Plan will be focused on preventing chronic kidney disease and identifying high risk groups rather than treating them after falling sick which is expensive and complicated," he said.

"The Master Plan will also pay attention towards raising awareness among the public living in the affected areas on minimizing insecticides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers. They will also be educated on making drinking water safe.

"They public will be educated on managing other risk factors that lead to the chronic kidney disease. All required resources have already been provided to all state hospitals located in the affected areas i order to carry out treatment, " he added.