Director General of Health Services Dr. Palitha Mahipala warned that Chronic Kidney Diseases and HIV infections could become one of the biggest national health problems in the country in the near future if action is not taken to arrest them.

Dr. Mahipala said 12,000 people were referred for HIV tests and 45 kidney patients were found this year alone from Hambantota.

He revelaed these facts recently at the monthly progress review meeting of health institutions in the Hambantota District..

He informed the heads of healthcare institutions of the Hambantota District that Anugunakolapelessa had been identified a risk area for kidney diseases with 45 new cases detected this year and that there has been a sharp rise in Asthma and Pneumonia cases in the Hambantota District.

The Health Ministry will conduct a survey to ascertain the factors that have contributed to the increase in the number of cases of HIV, CKD, Pneumonia and Asthma and determine whether there was any connection to fertilizer, pesticide or weedicide used by people in Hambantota as the majority are farmers, Dr. Mahipala observed. He further assured to expand the Hambantota, Tangalle and Walasmulla Hospitals with more facilities and infrastructure with the main objective of facing these challenges.