PANJIM, MARCH 10
One out of every 10 people in Goa suffers from kidney disease even as the State is yet to come to some conclusion on the causes of renal failures in Canacona taluka from where comes the highest number of patients many of whom have succumbed to the disease.
Even as the world and Goa celebrates World Kidney Day tomorrow (Thursday), there are no close-to exact figures available on the number of persons infected with the disease over the years in the State, but it is evident the figure is rising.
This can be well understood with what consultant nephrologist and transplant physician at Apollo Victor Hospital Dr Shital Lengade has to say, “Over a period of one week recently at Apollo’s I saw 30 patients from Canacona alone coming for dialysis.”
He observes in Canacona the type of renal failures that are seen can have multiple reasons or multiple causative factors. A lot needs to be done before coming to a firm conclusion, he adds.
A study done some six to eight years ago by the Preventive and Social Medicine Department of GMC and the Directorate of Health Services for nearly three years have remained inconclusive on the exact cause of the disease in Canacona.   
Dr Lengade, who is one of the two nephrologists Goa has, mentions, “Canacona contributes to 25 per cent of patients coming for dialysis at different hospitals. Most of these patients are in the last stages of the disease. There are more patients in the early phases of kidney failure.”
The State’s two nephrologists – Dr Lengade and Dr J P
Tiwari from Goa Medical College and Hospital – have felt the need for more of their kind. “We need the services of at least two more nephrologists to cater to the rising number of renal failures,” says Dr Lengade.  
He says the shortage of nephrologists is not only felt in this tiny State. In the entire country there are roughly 800 nephrologists attending to a large number of kidney patients, he mentions. 
Dr Lengade states the most important for Goa is a need for a full-fledged kidney transplant unit and on the eve of World kidney Day he appealed to the Government to work towards having the same keeping in mind the number of patients on dialysis who will benefit from the facility. 
AWARENESS: He observes the knowledge of kidney diseases amongst people is very poor and most importantly the existing dialysis facility in Canacona is not that adequate. The dialysis unit there has to be upgraded with better facilities so that people can sustain on this treatment for more than 10 years without opting for transplant, he mentions.
Agrees Sayandeo Samant, president of the newly formed Goa Renal Support Association, “People have to be educated about kidney diseases and that’s what we plan to do by organising camps in all the 11 talukas of the State. Right now we have planned to start with our first camp in Revoda in Colvale. We plan to have at least one camp per month.”
DIALYSIS: Samant mentions the association has been basically formed to support kidney patients. Till date there are around 210 people undergoing dialysis, he informs.
While Dr Lengade has the felt need for upgrading the dialysis facility in Canacona, Director of Health Services Dr Rajananda Desai thinks otherwise, “Basically, the facility is being misused by people who are not entitled for this treatment. They produce false income certificates to avail of the treatment while the needy are deprived. The State has made funds available to the tune of Rs 3 lakh under the Mediclaim scheme for the needy patients. If people are going to misuse the facility it is beyond our control. The society also has some responsibility.”  
CAUSES: Says Dr Lengade, “Diabetes remains the leading cause of kidney failures with 45 per cent of the patients categorised under this head. Other contributing factors are high blood pressure, kidney stones, high levels of uric acid in the blood, inflammation of the kidneys, etc.”
Doctors feel the problem may be going out of hand and tomorrow being the World Kidney Day stakeholders could impress upon the Government to take appropriate and firm measures to bring the situation under control.