Kerala - Kochi   

‘Spread awareness of kidney ailments’

SETTING THE TONE: Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Kerala Kidney Research Foundation in the city on Saturday.

KOCHI: There is urgent need to create awareness of kidney ailments and diabetes which are fast spreading in Kerala, said Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.

Speaking after inaugurating the Kochi branch of the Kerala Kidney Research Foundation and handing over a dialysis machine to PVS Memorial Hospital here on Saturday, he said little was being done now at the local level to prevent the prevalence of kidney and related disorders. “The Government must intervene in this and come up with a dedicated action plan for the purpose. A team of doctors had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to highlight the issue. I have given a letter to the Union Health Minister, citing the need to spread awareness of the preventive and treatment methods of kidney disorders. In many cases, people have no money for dialysis and organisations like the kidney foundation are of immense help to them,” Mr Ravi said.

Kerala Kidney Research Foundation president Kurian John Melamparambil said in his presidential address that the foundation owed much to its trustee Georgi Abraham and Mercy Ravi, wife of Mr. Vayalar Ravi. “Charity is not something that one gives for free. It is the ‘dharmic’ responsibility of each individual and organisation to help those in distress. We should share our blessings with the less-fortunate. A person who works without expecting any return, can die in peace, with contentment,” he said.

Making a brief visit to the venue, the former judge of Supreme Court V.R. Krishna Iyer said the right to health equalled the right to life. Dialysis at the appropriate time is necessary, he said.

Consultant nephrologist Georgy K. Ninan said that chronic kidney diseases were increasing because of the change in present day lifestyle. “It is estimated that around 14 per cent of Kochi residents have kidney ailments. Timely detection and preventing further progression of the disease is a must. We need more hospitals where subsidised dialysis is available. Rehabilitation is another thrust area.”

Madhu Blessy, Director-Operations of the Cochin Kidney Foundation, said that the foundation was started four years ago on realising the helplessness of many patients.

“We also assist kidney-transplant patients. The present focus is on rehabilitation — to rebuild confidence and self-esteem in kidney patients.” Secretary of the State foundation G.A. Suresh and Dr. Georgi Abraham also spoke. During the past year, the foundation had conducted about 1,400 dialyses, charging just Rs 500 from every patient.

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