SAMBALPUR: The incidence of chronic renal failure (CRF) is assuming alarming proportion in Western Odisha. While the disease, which was earlier confined to specific pockets, is fast spreading its tentacles to different districts, the administrations seems clueless about the reasons of the spread and the measures to be taken to contain it.
In 2010, a team from VSS Medical College visited Pandikipali village in Kolabira block of Jharsuguda district where 14 deaths had been reported due to CRF. The doctors could not ascertain the cause of the disease but suggested a slew of preventive measures to the district administration.
According to reports from Debadihi on the outskirts of Jharsuguda, 21 persons are undergoing treatment for CRF. The disease has claimed eight lives in the last one decade. Villagers said more cases will come to the fore if proper investigation is done. Water with heavy metal content is suspected to be the reason for outbreak of the disease though no study has been undertaken to establish the claim.
Sources said villagers are suffering from swollen legs and weakness and are unable to work for long hours. A private practitioner of Jharsuguda Dr Ashish Sinha said the patients are found to have high level of creatinine. In a recently organised camp, 21 persons were found to be having symptoms of kidney ailment and advised to visit VSS Medical for further medical attention, he added.
Ironically, the district health administration is unaware of the prevalence of CRF. Chief District Medical Officer Dr Dayamanti Sahu feigned ignorance about prevalence of kidney related ailment in the district but assured of all possible help, if any case is detected.
Last year, 18 patients died due to CRF in Podabalanda and Kuhi villages under Ward 5 of Rairakhol Notified Area Council (NAC). Reportedly, several persons are still suffering from the disease. Although a three-member team of doctors visited the villages and collected water samples for tests, not much headway has been made in this regard.
Similar reports have been received from Adendungri village in Balangir district. The sources said the disease has claimed eight lives in Dhaunradadar and Rampur villages in the district.
Fresh report of eight persons suffering from the disease has also come to the fore from Balda village under Bongomunda block where seven persons have died due to CRF in the last two years.
According to reports, 10 persons are suffering from CRF in Dhalpur gram panchayat under Harbhanga block of Boudh district.
Ironically, while the cause behind prevalence of the disease is yet to be ascertained, medical camps have been organised and affected patients provided medicines. While presence of heavy metals, fluoride and dust from stone quarries in water is attributed as possible cause, doctors are yet to trace the real reason of the outbreak of the disease.