On Monday, the Andhra Pradesh government agreed to set up a dedicated research center in the State’s Uddanam region. This initiative is to find a solution to the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR,) will support the institute and the State Government will take care of 50% of its expenditure.
The institute which is to come up at a cost of Rs. 15 crores, will be dedicated to kidney research and nephrology. It also includes bio banking, surveillance, DNA sequencing, patient care infrastructure, academic training and public education.
Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu made a formal public statement in Amaravati regarding the approval of the initiative, when a team of doctors from Harvard Medical School along with the Actor-Politician, Pawan Kalyan met him. In addition to this, Naidu also declared safe drinking water will be provided to the Uddanam area.
On Saturday, the team which visited the region in Srikakulam district submitted its recommendations to the government at the initiative taken by Pawan Kalyan.
Dr. Joseph Bonventre, who led the team of doctors, recommended the arrangement of the dedicated Institute.
The Chief Minister instantly agreed and said that the State cabinet have already approved the initiative of the research institute at Srikakulam.
During the last 30 years, the disease, has claimed many people’s life. The health officials, after the screening of over one lakh people in 176 villages said that the results showed the prevalence rate of the disease is 13 percent, which is extremely high according to any standard.
Principal Secretary, Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Poonam Malakondaiah said that 54% per cent of the patients are male and 46 per cent of the patients are female. She explained that each case is recorded electronically to help the government in providing the required medical care and attention.
The State cabinet has approved the pension of Rs. 2,500 per month to all the patients in the State having CKD stage III, IV & V and those undergoing dialysis in the government hospitals.
