There are about two crore kidney patients in the country and 90 per cent of them die without proper treatment because of its high cost and lack of availability, specialists said yesterday.

Concerned over the situation, the physicians urged the well-to-do people to come forward with their helping hands and positive attitudes to save these kidney patients through providing generous donation for tackling this expensive treatment. "A man after successful kidney transplant can survive more than 40 years," President of Kidney Foundation Prof Harun-Ur-Rashid said while presiding over a press conference in the city on the occasion of the launch of a lottery programme against this grim background. ♦

Prof Rashid informed journalists that they started the Kidney Foundation lottery-ticket sale across country from Thursday to raise funds for establishing a world-class kidney hospital at Mirpur in the city. A six-storied and

200-bed modern hospital will provide treatment with 40 beds of dialysis unit.

He said all branches of Sonali Bank and the agents would sell the lottery tickets across the country. Hie draw will be held on June 23, 2008.

National Professor MR Khan, senior journalist Ataus Samad, UNB Chairman Amanullah Khan, Sonali Bank MD/ CEO SA Chowdhury and Kidney Foundation Secretary General Prof Muhibur Rahman were present on the occasion.