Puzzled at the mysterious Chronic Kidney Disease of undetermined causes (CKDu) that has gripped the Andhra Pradesh's Uddhanam region of Srikakulam district, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and the Southern State have jointly invited institutes/NGOs to conduct research and help tackle the disease.
Incidentally, the ICMR, in 2016, along with researchers of Harvard University, Andhra Medical College, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and NTR University of Health Sciences among others had initiated a probe into the matter.
Researchers initially pinpointed "excessive levels of silica in water" as the cause; however, the ICMR research had to be shelved because of fund crunch.
Now, the health research wing of the Union Health Ministry along with Andhra Pradesh Government has invited researchers from institutes/universities/NGOs to take up 'Grand Challenge-CKDu' project to be kick started from December this year.
The project entails research, strengthening of CKD screening and management program through standardised algorithms; capacity building and strengthening the human resources and reduces harmful environment exposures.
The CKDu is prevalent in countries like Sri lanka, Egypt, and now India. It's a fatal progressive loss of kidney function that has killed 40,000 people in the last decade-and no one knows what causes it. It mostly affects poor, agricultural workers, and is virtually undetectable until its latest stages when kidney failure is inevitable.
The Andhra Pradesh Government woke up from its slumber only after Telugu superstar and Jana Sena party chief Pawan Kalyan threatened to agitate if agony of the patients afflicted with the deadly disease is addressed.
It had prompted the Naidu Government to approach the ICMR which resulted into the Grand challenge-CKDu project. The State has also started a pension scheme for those disabled by the disease.
A high-level multi-disciplinary ICMR team early this year too had reviewed the existing information and identify the research needs to understand the etiology and burden of CKDu and the ongoing interventions.
It also analysed various studies conducted in the past: A study conducted in 2005 indicated very high prevalence (47 per cent) of CKDu in the region, while two another community based studies (2011 and 2014-16) indicated prevalence of CKD at 15 per cent - 17 per cent in the Uddhanam area. These studies covered 1,152 and 3,938 individuals from 16 and 13 villages respectively.
It also analysed data available from ongoing screening program by the State Government. Of 9,000 persons screened, 2,493 (28 per cent) were found to had creatinine, suggesting high burden of CKD in the community.