Kidney patients stage dharna

Vijayawada: Hundreds of kidney patients, mostly Tribals, SC and BC communities from nineteen mandals of Krishna district, including A Konduru, Gampalagudem and other mandals staged dharna here on Tuesday.

They demanded that the government provide all medical facilities for the patients including dialysis centres, nephrology doctors, paramedical staff, medicines and drinking water from Krishna River.

CPM state secretary Ch Babu Rao participated in the protest in support of the patients.

Addressing the gathering, Babu Rao said that thousands of people were suffering from kidney related diseases in the said 19 mandals of Krishna district.

He said that about 111 patients died till now due to kidney related problems and in the last three months 27 people died.

He blamed the Chief Minister and the government for not providing proper medical facilities and medical equipment to treat dialysis patients.

He demanded that the government provide fully equipped dialysis centres at all mandals, provide ambulance, bus pass, hygienic food and conduct screening tests.

MLC Boddu Nageswara Rao said that by drinking polluted ground water, people of all age groups starting from six year to sixty years old were suffering from kidney-related diseases in those mandals.

He said that children were becoming the breadwinners of their family skipping the school.

He blamed the government for engaging Sadhikara Mithra for every 35 families and enrolling the details for the upcoming elections.

He demanded that the government take the data of kidney patients and provide better treatment facilities.