Students, doctors and resource persons participating in Community Care Awareness Program organized by Rotary Club of Belgaum South and Manipal Hospital, Belagavi. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
“Geographical areas that experience prolonged extreme heat are increasingly seeing higher rates of chronic kidney disease. Belagavi and several districts of North Karnataka fall into this category. Years of working or living in high-temperature areas combined with inadequate hydration can quietly accelerate kidney damage, especially in individuals with diabetes or hypertension,” said Head of Department and Consultant, Nephrology and Transplantation V Belagawan S. in Belagawan.
He was speaking at a community care awareness program organized by Rotary Club of Belgaum South and Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bengaluru.
“In most districts of North Karnataka, kidney disease is increasingly affecting younger adults, disrupting education, careers and family life. Data from the state government’s Gruha Arogya Yojana survey shows over 60,000 cases of hypertension, 50,000 cases of diabetes and over 3,000 cases of chronic kidney disease in Belagavi district, with experts warning that the true burden is likely to be higher.
Manipal Community Care Program organized at Rani Parvati Devi College in Tilakwadi focuses on these questions.
However, such situations can be avoided. Most cases of advanced kidney failure are rooted in long-term, poorly controlled diabetes and hypertension. “Early screening and early intervention could have changed the outcome for many of these patients,” said Dr. Vishwanath.
Consultant, Uro-Oncology, Robotic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Anand Patil said that both smoking and smokeless tobacco and increasing obesity significantly worsen kidney damage.
“Quitting tobacco, managing your weight and staying adequately hydrated are simple but effective steps that can slow disease progression and protect kidney health,” he said.
While prevention and early diagnosis formed the basis of the discussion, experts also spoke about the hospital’s role in providing advanced and specialized kidney care to patients from North Karnataka.
They highlighted the comprehensive nephrology and transplant services, including robotic nephrectomy, offered by the Bengaluru hospital.
The event concluded with a call for collective action to shift the focus from late-stage treatment to prevention and early diagnosis.
President, Rotary Club of Belgaum South, Govind Misale and Secretary, Rotary Club of Belgaum South, Rtn. According to the report, Pranav Krishna Pitre and others were present.
Published – 01 March 2026 18:49 IST
