Prevention drive for kidney patients in Malappuram

MALAPPURAM: The charity activities meant for patients with chronic renal diseases (CKD) are aplenty in the district chipping in crores of rupees for kidney transplants and treatment.

Parappanangadi-based Face Foundation of India has now embarked on a mission for early detection and prevention of CKD - Care and Cure - throughout the district.

“Our effort is to detect potential kidney patients through medical tests. The persons with CKD symptoms will be given medical attention and monitored for a year by our volunteers to help them cure completely,” says Dr Muhammed Yasir, coordinator of the project.

Dr Yasir is a faculty member at the department of community medicine, Govt Medical College, Manjeri. The Face Foundation had implemented the
year-long project in Parappanangadi panchayath testing more than 3,000 persons at ten medical camps last year.

Of this, some 300 persons had CKD symptoms, and the Foundation had adopted around 100 of them and given medical attention at regular intervals scrutinising their condition through follow up camps.

“All have been completely cured. This prompted us to take up the project at the district level,” said Mohammed Nayeem, secretary of the foundation.

“Our study shows that 10 percent of the total number of kidney patients in the district can be reduced through this prevention drive,” Dr Yasir said.
“CKD has evolved as the major health issue in the district."

The district panchayat also has ventured into charity drive to help kidney patients setting up a charity organisation named Kidney Patients Welfare Society which provides financial support.

“Currently the society is supporting the treatment of more than 3,900 patients. We are also getting 30-50 applications from new patients a month,” says Ummer Arakkal, convener of the society.