Use of banned tobacco products caused diseases: Experts Panel

Use of banned tobacco products caused diseases: Experts Panel
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Highlights

The six-member committee formed by the Indian Council for Medical Research briefed health minister Kamineni Srinivas on the kidney ailments prevalent in Uddanam area of Srikakulam, here on Monday. 

Visakhapatnam: The six-member committee formed by the Indian Council for Medical Research briefed health minister Kamineni Srinivas on the kidney ailments prevalent in Uddanam area of Srikakulam, here on Monday.

The committee is headed by Dr Ravi Raju. Dr Raju gave a power point presentation on the ailments and said the kidney failures were caused due to excess usage of pain killers and gross neglect of hypertension and diabetes.

He said the committee had visited Uddanam since January, screened and submitted the reports of one lakh people, out of whom 13,000 people were found to be normal, 80 per cent had mild and moderate infection whereas the condition of 650 persons was severe.

The members of the committee found in their field study that the people in Uddanam consumed less water and used banned tobacco products regularly. They were found working whole day while chewing the tobacco. They said the tobacco mixes up with saliva and enters the body.

The mixture of silicon and other chemicals are used in this tobacco product which was leading to people in Uddanam falling ill and suffering kidney failures. Dr Raju said the spread of kidney failures was rapid due to the high presence of silicon and cadmium arsenic in the water.

Minister asked the officials to take immediate care of the patients who were suffering ailments in the primary stage. He suggested for supply of potable and safe drinking water facility to this area.

The committee members suggested three levels of treatment according to the severity of the patient’s condition so that these diseases can be prevented with proper treatment.

The minister said awareness camps should be conducted on their diet and drug consumption and specially trained professionals should be deployed at the primary health centres.

He also asked Superintendent of King George Hospital to close the Nizam's pharmacy which has been selling medicines for higher prices without any prescriptions near King George Hospital.

Committee members Dr Vivekananda, Dr George Abraham, Dr V Shiva Kumar, Dr Pradeep Kaur (ICMR representatives), Dr C Arjun, Superintendent of KGH, Dr J Sarojini, District Health Department Officer and other officials were present.

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