Mangaluru: Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai on Monday launched a campaign with the slogan ‘Pain Killer Tyajisi – Kidney Ulisi’ (avoid pain killers, protect your kidneys) to create awareness against excessive use of pain killers that could damage kidneys. An awareness jatha was organised in Puttur town, with the MLA taking the lead to create awareness on adverse impact of self-medication, especially the consumption of over-the-counter pain killers and other tablets. Students and like-minded organisation members participated in the health awareness rally held from Darbe to Bolwar. Posters with messages on kidney health were distributed to medical shops.“I have seen in the past 13 years that many youths are suffering from kidney-related ailments. Many people between 25 to 40 years of age, have been suffering from kidney diseases. Many patients, who have come to me seeking help, informed me that they were taking painkillers for dental pain, headache or body pain. They have been buying painkillers directly from pharmacies even without consulting doctors. Taking painkillers regularly, especially for long duration, without prescription, is not advisable,” the MLA said.The job of an MLA is not limited to the development of the constituency, said Rai. “We also have the responsibility to create awareness on public health. Puttur govt hospital’s dialysis centre alone has 210 registered patients. The number of patients requiring dialysis has been increasing. Kidney-related diseases put their families in distress. Hence, this rally has been organised to create awareness against self-medication,” he added.
