In the wake of chronic renal failure (CRF) endemic plaguing villages under Narsinghpur and Badamba blocks of the district, the local Narsinghpur Community Health Centre (CHC) is set to start specialised diagnostic services for kidney diseases by September-end.
The autoanaylser machine and equipment for diagnosing kidney disorders is in the process of installation even as two pathologists and technicians from Narsinghpur CHC and Kanpur CHC have already received training to operate it.
“With diagnostic services provided at the doorsteps, early detection of CRF, which is highly prevalent in these pockets, will receive a major boost. People will also not have to cover 80-90 km to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for tests,” Collector Girish SN said.
The diagnostic set-up will be followed up by establishment of the dialysis unit, that has also entered advanced stage of implementation. Structural infrastructure for the project, carried out on PPP mode, is ready and the process of procurement of the dialysis machines and allied equipment has gone underway.
While the manpower for the unit would be appointed soon, doctors of the local hospital would receive training on conduct of dialysis and treatment of the patients.
Teleconferencing facilities would also be provided to the unit for guidance in treatment by senior nephrologists of the SCB Medical College and Hospital.
“The objective is to provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment facilities to the people. We are already providing all medicines for CRF to the patients. The treatment and dialysis costs will be borne from the Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF),” said Girish.
While high incidence of CRF in around 25 villages under the two blocks continues to affect more than 400 persons, the cause is yet to be determined.
In several villages, each household has at least one member suffering from kidney disease. More than 30 persons have also lost their lives to CRF.
Several studies conducted by expert organisations including the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), OSPCB, IMMT and RWSS department have failed to detect the causes as the water and soil do not have presence of heavy metals or toxins.