Members of the Forum for Development of North Andhra (FDNA) have written a letter to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu urging immediate intervention to address the growing severity of kidney disease in the Uddanam region of Srikakulam district and to strengthen medical and research facilities.
FDNA general secretary, A. Aja Sharma, said it has been reported in several newspapers that an expert committee constituted to study the prevalence of the disease has submitted an interim report to the Minister for Health. The findings reportedly contained in the report are deeply disturbing and call for immediate intervention by the State Government.
He said that, according to the report, 3,897 people were examined and kidney disease was detected in 949 of them, accounting for 24.35% of those screened, which is extremely alarming.
The seriousness of the situation becomes even more evident when compared with the earlier screening conducted in the region. During 2017-19, screening was carried out among 1,01,593 people across 176 villages, of whom 13,093, or 12.88%, were found to have kidney-related ailments. The latest reported figure of 24.35% represents a substantial increase from 12.88%.
He alleged that the Government has constructed and inaugurated the Kidney Research and Super-Speciality Hospital and Research Centre at Palasa. However, the facility is reportedly functioning without adequate manpower and resources. There are reportedly no permanent nursing staff in the institution, he said.
Similarly, against the sanctioned requirement of 18 technicians, only 10 are reportedly available, and they too are engaged on a contractual basis.
He urged the government to strengthen and modernise the Uddanam Kidney Research Centre with advanced medical technology and equipment. The number of dialysis units should be increased substantially to meet the growing requirement.
The members also urged the government to expand free screening programmes across the Uddanam region so that cases can be detected at an early stage. Upgrade the Mandasa Primary Health Centre (PHC) into a Community Health Centre (CHC) and provide it with adequate infrastructure, equipment, doctors, nursing staff, laboratory facilities and other necessary services.
Published – September 13, 2026 08:54 pm IST
