Ministry launches kidney disease awareness in Medawachchiya

by Carol Aloysius

Following the final report and recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) a team of Health Ministry officials led by Minister Maithrapala Sirisena will visit the Medawachchiya district, which is said to be the worst affected by the disease. “The visit is to raise awareness among the residents of the causes of kidney disease and how they can prevent it”, Health Ministry spokesman W.A.D. Wanninayake told the Sunday Observer.

Nearly 13,000 people in the NCP are said to be suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease. “When the Health Minister received the report a few days ago, he decided he would personally visit Medawachchiya and meet the people living there, to raise awareness on this disease which has afflicted so many persons in the prime of their lives”, he said.

He said the public would also be alerted on the danger of not drinking enough water which leads to kidney disease. An estimated 61 percent of people in the NCP drank less than one litre of water a day while around 4 percent drink only two glasses daily, a Health Ministry Research Unit study recently revealed. The Ministry spokesman pointed out that if residents were to follow the WHO recommendations and drink only boiled cooled water, use pesticide and artificial fertilizer only when required and adopt healthy lifestyles by avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol, kidney diseases could be minimized.