The Odisha government announced a major initiative to combat chronic kidney disease across the state. Health authorities will conduct a detailed block-level survey to identify CKD hotspots. This systematic approach aims to pinpoint areas with high disease prevalence for targeted intervention.
Comprehensive Investigation Plan
After completing the initial survey, expert teams will launch thorough investigations into identified cases. These investigations will help authorities understand why people develop CKD in specific areas. The government plans to take necessary preventive measures based on these findings.
Multi-Factor Analysis
Survey teams will collect comprehensive information about CKD causes. They will examine drinking water sources as a potential contributing factor. The investigation will involve collecting samples of blood, water, soil, and vegetables. Kidney biopsies will also form part of the detailed analysis.
Susanta Kumar Swain, additional director of health services for non-communicable diseases, explained the methodology. "We will choose patients and normal people randomly as samples for our study," he stated. "After detecting a hotspot, we will investigate environmental factors contributing to the CKD prevalence."
Expert Collaboration and Support
The Indian Council of Medical Research will provide crucial support for this program. Official sources confirmed ICMR's involvement in the initiative. The department has created a uniform format to study CKD cases by involving experts from different sectors.
Swain emphasized the comprehensive approach. "If we get any information regarding CKD death, our expert team, including nephrologists, will study the case and find out the reasons behind the death," he added.
Technical Committee Formation
Recently, a meeting chaired by health secretary Aswathy S reached important decisions. A technical committee will develop simple, easy-to-understand messages about kidney disease prevention and early detection. These messages will disseminate among the general population.
The committee will also prepare strategies for screening and early diagnosis of kidney diseases. They will assist in secondary data analysis and assess block-wise disease burden. Another key responsibility involves modeling a uniform protocol for investigating reported CKD clusters across Odisha.
CKD Prevalence in Odisha and India
Chronic kidney disease shows significant variation across India. Prevalence ranges from 7% to 17% among the population above 15 years. More than 140 million people currently live with CKD in India.
Odisha reports approximately 14% CKD prevalence among residents above 15 years. This places the state within the higher range of national statistics.
District-Level Statistics
Recent data reveals concerning numbers in several Odisha districts:
- Sambalpur reported 3,488 CKD cases over the last three years
- Cuttack documented 3,484 cases during the same period
- Koraput district recorded 1,202 CKD cases
- Keonjhar district reported 734 cases
- Sundargarh district documented 732 cases
- Ganjam district recorded 711 cases
Treatment Infrastructure
Odisha currently operates 70 dialysis centers across 30 districts. These facilities house 519 hemodialysis machines. Many patients receive dialysis and treatment in private hospitals through government health schemes.
The Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana-Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana provides coverage for numerous patients. This public-private partnership expands treatment access across the state.
