From kidney disease to blood disorders: A Konduru’s health burden deepens

Vijayawada: Even as the A Konduru mandal in NTR district continues to witness a high incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) ailments, the region, with the presence of a tribal population, is now plagued by sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia. These diseases were found among local residents identified by the Praja Arogya Vedika during their field-level visit to the region.The cases were reported from A Konduru, Cheemalapadu, Gollamandala, Komatikuntla, Polisettipadu, Vallampatla, Madhavaram, and Repudi villages in A Konduru Mandal.Praja Arogya Vedika (PAV) NTR district general secretary, G Vijay Prakash, said, "The PAV team, led by Dr KVS Sai Prasad, visited Cheemalapadu, Krishnaraopalem, A Konduru, Chaitanya Nagar, and Polisettypadu and detected 20 sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia cases among the local residents."Out of the 20 cases, nine patients with thalassemia and eleven patients with sickle cell anaemia were identified in the mandal. The 20 identified patients, the PAV said, include middle-aged persons, youth, and children; both men and women.Vijaya Prakash said thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia are genetic disorders and that early diagnosis and timely medical intervention can significantly improve life expectancy. He explained that blood tests can determine whether a person is a carrier or is affected by the disease, noting that these conditions often do not show visible symptoms and can be reliably detected only through blood tests."These blood tests would usually cost approximately Rs 1,500," he added, pointing to the cost factor and affordability of the people in the region. He added that the PAV and Indian Academy of Pediatrics-Krishna district will be jointly organising a free blood testing camp in the interest of public welfare for A Konduru residents at the mandal parishad office on Sunday.When contacted by TOI on the prevalence of sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia cases in A Konduru, NTR DMHO M Suhasini said that the district medical and health department, using the test kits provided by the state govt, conducted tests for the tribal population present in the A Konduru region. "Test samples that tested positive for sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia have been referred to Guntur GGH for further investigation, wherein after due medical tests, prescribed treatment such as blood transfusion and management are being performed on the patients who tested positive for the two diseases," the DMHO informed.